While no one really knows the exact origin of Margaritas or who created the first one, we do know they have been around since about 1934. The original Margarita was made with tequila, orange liqueur and fresh lime over ice, the same way it is made today.

The evolution of the Margarita has brought us a long ways from 1934…now you can make just about any flavor you desire just by adding fruit or even vegetables and tossing it in a blender! While making Margaritas from scratch sounds like a tedious task, let us give you some quick ideas to make it simple.

SELECTING TEQUILA:

Selecting the right Tequila may be the most difficult part, so here are some things to look at!

If you are blending margaritas with ice and fruit/mix, you don’t have to spend a lot to get a quality cocktail.   Sauza Gold/White or Jose Cuervo gold/White work perfectly for blended margaritas.

If you are making margaritas on the rocks, we recommend a smoother and higher quality Tequila.

-Select a Tequila that is made from 100% Agave or Blue Agave. If the bottle isn’t labeled as such, the distiller can add a neutral spirit and even coloring to the tequila. Tequila that is not 100% Agave is often less expensive lacks flavor and balance.

-Silver, Reposado and Anejo are the age statements you will find on a bottle of Tequila. Silver is unaged and is bottled following distillation. Reposado means the Tequila has been “rested” or aged for less than 12 months in oak barrels. Anejo is aged in oak barrels for 12 to 36 months. As with any distilled spirit, the longer it ages in oak, the smoother and richer the flavor becomes.

-We often recommend using Silver or Reposado Tequila because of their mild, clean flavors and they tend to have a hint of citrus to them. Anejo is very good tequila, but is often a little more expensive and Anejo can sometimes overpower the fruit and citrus tones of the Margarita.

SELECTING ORANGE LIQUEUR:

The right orange liqueur is just as important as the right tequila. While most recipes call for triple sec, most aficionados will upgrade to Grand Marnier or Cointreau, which are much more rich and flavorful than triple sec. Another new product that is very good and a little less expensive is O3 from Dekuyper and is a very nice upgrade from common Triple Sec.

FRESH vs. BOTTLED MIXES:

Fresh ingredients ALWAYS make a better cocktail! If you do not want to prepare your Margarita’s from scratch, I recommend using either Finest Call or Daily’s mixers, they both use fruit in their mixes and are not just flavored sugar water like some other brands.

SALT OR SUGAR ON THE RIM:

Choosing between salt and sugar on the Margarita glass is a personal choice! Traditional Lime Margaritas are usually rimmed with salt, while fruit Margaritas are usually rimed with sugar or powdered sugar.