The 22nd of February is International Margarita Day, the perfect day to pay tribute to this cocktail. Legend has it that over 220 years ago the earth erupted with the agave plant and a hero named Jose Cuervo started making history.
When prohibition left everyone dry he crossed the borders to quench their thirsts and then he met the beauty Margarita in a bar and the world’s most famous cocktail was born. Loved and consumed by millions, around the world from haciendas of sun-drenched Mexico to the best clubs and bars, people honour this sacred tequila; triple sec and lime drink on a specific day dedicated to the celebration of its existence. After all it’s the most famous cocktail to ever come out of Mexico.
A bit of history: Although steeped in urban myth, the exact time and individual responsible for its existence is often debated. What is known is that the original Margarita was always made with Jose Cuervo tequila, the world’s favourite tequila since 1975. Some accounts of its creation date as far back as the 1930’s where bartenders from Mexico and the surrounding regions staked claim to its invention. However, during the 1940’s Jose Cuervo was responsible for advertising campaigns with the slogan,‘Margarita, it’s more than just a girls name,’ and according to Jose Cuervo records it was invented in 1938 by a bartender in honour of a Mexican showgirl named Rita de la Rosa. Whatever its origins from the cantinas of old Mexico or the American West, it is a classic and one of the finest ways to enjoy Jose Cuervo tequila.
Make your own To honour this cocktail’s history it is best to drink it in its classic way, served with salt on the rim of the glass, shaken with ice on the rocks. Award-winning bartender, tequila aficionado and official ambassador for Jose Cuervo Tradicional, Siavash ‘Marshall’ Behaein provides the perfect cocktail recipe to honour this tradition:Classic Margarita with Agave Syrup Twist You’ll need tequila, Cointreau (triple sec), lime-juice, agave syrup (found at all good Woolies outlets), some salt and a cocktail glass & shaker
Ingredients 50ml of Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado tequila 25ml of Cointreau (triple sec) 25ml of lime-juice A tablespoon (10ml) of Agave syrup A crack of salt MethodShake the tequila and triple sec with cracked ice in a cocktail shaker, rub the rim of the chilled cocktail glass with lime juice and dip in coarse salt, then strain the cocktail mix the chilled glass. Then add the teaspoon of agave syrup and enjoy. Enjoy the taste of authentic Mexico on a day worth celebrating an iconic cocktail – Salud!
