Get ready to celebrate a holiday you (probably) didn’t know existed: National Margarita Day.
“America loves margaritas. It’s the number-one-selling cocktail in the country,” said Kyle Ford, a New York City-based mixologist and brand ambassador for Cointreau, a brand of triple sec, an orange-flavored liqueur that is an ingredient in the standard margarita. “There’s a holiday for almost everything, so how cool is it that there’s one for a cocktail?”
Like most cocktail lore, there are conflicting sources about the origins of the margarita, but Ford subscribes to one story: The first margarita was created in 1948 by Margaret “Margarita” Sames, a Dallas Socialite who “had a penchant for tequila, and loved Cointreau.” During one party at her Acapulco vacation home – which is said to have lasted two weeks – she served the spirits mixed with fresh lime juice and garnished the rim of the glass with salt.
Part of the reason the cocktail is such a hit, Ford explains, is that it follows classic cocktail principals of 2-1-1 (two parts tequila to one part lime juice and one part Cointreau).
“It’s extremely well balanced. It’s strong, sweet and sour,” he said. “And that sets you up for an infinite amount of variations.”
And the timing of the holiday? Jenna Fagan, the president of Tequila Avión, thinks that it’s perfect for winter-weary New Yorkers.
“When you’re having a great drink it transports you emotionally,” Fagan said. “A margarita transports us all to summer,sitting on that beach with a margarita in hand.”
Need inspiration to celebrate? Here a few recipes to get you in the holiday spirit:
The original Cointreau margarita (pictured above)
2 oz. Blanco tequila
1 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. Lime juice
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and add ice. Shake and strain into a margarita glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and salt.
Blood Orange Margarita
1 1/2 parts Tequila Avión
3/4 part Cointreau Orange Liqueur
1 part Blood Orange Juice
1/2 part Fresh Sour Mix
In a cocktail shaker add all ingredients with ice. Shake and strain; best served over fresh ice and garnish with an orange twist.
Fresh Watermelon Margarita
At Virgil’s Real Barbecue near Times Square, fresh muddled watermelon helps give the drink, created by bar director Erin Ward, a real taste of summer.
1 slice watermelon
1.5 oz. tequila
1 oz. lime juice
Splash of Orange juice
Splash of Cointreau
Muddle watermelon with tequila and lime juice. Add a splash of orange juice and a splash of Cointreau, stir to finish.
Virgil’s Real Barbecue, 152 West 44th Street, (212) 921-9494
Passion Fruit Jalapeno Margarita
At MexiBBQ, a Barbecue-Mexican fusion restaurant in Astoria, Executive Chef Jonathan VanSleet has created this sweet and spicy version of a margarita.
1 1/2 oz. 100% agave tequila
1 oz. passion fruit puree
1 oz. fresh lime juice
1 slice jalapeno
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
Combine paprika, cinnamon, salt and cayenne pepper and put onto a flat plate. Wet the rim of a tall glass with a lime wedge. Coat the rim of the glass with the spice mix. Muddle the jalapeno slice and add the tequila, passion fruit puree, lime juice and ice. Shake and strain into the glass with fresh ice.
MexiBBQ, 37-11 30th Ave., Astoria, (718) 626-0333
Quirida
The Quirida was created by the folks behind Qui Tequila, which is a clear tequila that has the aroma and smoothness of an ultra-aged tequila. The drink doesn’t have the tropical feel of many margarita varieties. It’s available at Egyptian restaurant Casa La Femme; owner Medhat Ibrahim is one of the creators of Qui.
1.5oz of Qui Tequila
.5oz Orange flavored liqueur
1oz Fresh tamarind puree
3 Sprigs of mint
Splash of fresh lemon and lime
Break the mint to release the oils. Put all ingredients in a shaker and shake vigorously. Serve over ice in a short glass garnished with a sprig of mint.
Casa La Femme, 140 Charles St., (212) 505-0005
“Feel Good Food,” a new cookbook from Southern Living, has two easy margarita-inspired cocktails for entertaining.
Strawberry Margarita Spritzers
makes about 8 cups
1 (10-oz.) package frozen whole strawberries, thawed
1 (10-oz.) can frozen strawberry daiquiri mix, thawed
1 cup tequila
1/4 cup orange liqueur
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 (1-liter) bottle club soda, chilled
Garnish: halved fresh strawberries
Pulse first five ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour into a pitcher, and stir in club soda just before serving. Serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.
Beer ‘garitas
Makes about 6 cups
1 (12-oz.) container limeade concentrate, thawed
1 1/2 cups tequila
2 (12-oz.) bottles beer
Crushed ice
Garnish: lime wedges
Stir together first three ingredients in a large pitcher until blended. Serve immediately over crushed ice. Garnish, if desired.
