Margarita Love!

There are few things that say summer and beaches like Margaritas. Margaritas have morphed much like “martinis” into a collection of cocktails that are based on the basic Margarita.  Since we love Margaritas from classic to extravagant we thought they should have their own post.  This is some of our favorites!

In a Margarita’s classic form—tequila, lime juice and Cointreau or Triple Sec, served in a glass with a salted rim—it is a perfect combination of sweet, salty, sour and bitter.  The classic recipe –  Agave Margarita

But what do the different types of Tequila mean?

REPOSADO” MEANS “RESTED.”

Tequila must be “rested” in wood barrels for a minimum of two months. This is a requirement of the Mexican government. The “resting” mellows and refines the tequila, producing a combination of superb smoothness and great taste.

“AÑEJO” MEANS “AGED”

Translated from Spanish, “añejo” means “aged.” In tequila terms, “añejo” is the designation for tequila that has been aged in oak barrels for at least one year.

Many people have claimed to have invented the margarita. One of those stories is that Carlos “Danny” Herrera developed the drink at his Tijuana-area restaurant, Rancho La Gloria, around 1938. As the legend goes, Herrera dreamed up the cocktail for one of his customers, an aspiring actress named Marjorie King who was allergic to all hard alcohol other than tequila. To make the liquor more palatable to his fussy client, he combined the elements of a traditional tequila shot—a lick of salt and a wedge of lime—and turned them into a refreshing drink.

Yet another story is Margarita Sames, a wealthy Dallas socialite who claimed she created the drink for friends at her home in 1948. Among her guests was Tommy Hilton, who eventually added the drink to the bar menu at his hotel chain.  However, Jose Quervo was first imported into the US with the tag line, Margarita it’s more than just a girl’s name in 1945 making this story unlikely.

CUERVO WAS THE FIRST PRODUCER OF TEQUILA IN THE WORLD.

Jose Antonio de Cuervo y Valdes obtained land from the King of Spain in 1758 and began producing tequila – all before Mexico became an independent republic. In 1795, his son, Jose María Guadalupe de Cuervo, began selling the very first Vino Mezcal de Tequila de Jose Cuervo after receiving the first official charter from the King of Spain to produce tequila commercially.

TEQUILA IS MADE FROM BLUE AGAVE.

Real tequila is made from a plant called Blue Agave. Only the Agave Azul Tequilana Weber variety can be used for tequila. Classified by German botanist F. Weber in 1905, Blue Agave is commonly mistaken for a cactus, but it’s really a relative of the lily (amaryllis) family. Blue Agave is sometimes known as maguey, mexic, pita and teometl.

Wether you like your Margaritas classic or with all the bells and whistles we’ve put together our favorites mixed with classics!  Enjoy

Blood Orange Margarita

With its beautiful color from freshly squeezed blood oranges this margarita is as tasty as it is beautiful.  When you’re using a fruit juice fresh squeezed is always best for both color and taste.  While it may take a little more time it pays off in taste.