Thursday Tequila Guest Blogger:
Pablo Agave, aka: Anthony Georgoulis
The Margarita is now one of the most popular cocktails in world. Where did this amazing balance of flavors come from? Who invented it? Where was it first made? What was the inspiration? In this installment of Pablo Agave’s corner we will look at the most popular stories of the margarita’s origin. Below are four versions of its birth, each one of them representing a little margarita magic. Now it is important to note that there are little bars and hotels all over the world (especially in Mexico and the Caribbean) that claim to have been serving margaritas as early as the 1930’s, but these four versions seem to have the most staying power.
In 1938 Bartender Danny Herrera while working at the Rancho del Gloria Bar in Rosarita Beach, Mexico was asked by a young lady to make him a cocktail, she said she was allergic to all alcohol except tequila. Danny looked at his bar, added some orange flavored liqueur (Cointreau), some fresh squeezed lime and the rest was history.
While working at the Foreign Club in Tijuana, Mexico, Enrique Bastaste Gutierrez was so taken by a young starlet at his bar that he created a very special cocktail just for her. It was the early 1940’s and the muse who inspired the drink was named Margarita Consino, hence the name of the drink. It was just a matter of time before the starlet (and the drink) made it big. The young lady shortened her first name to Rita and changed her last name to Heyworth. Rita Heyworth went on to be one of the great sex symbols of the silver screen and her namesake drink has inspired just as much passion.
The bar was Tommy’s Place in Juarez, Mexico, it was 1942. Pancho Morales was stumped when a woman came in and ordered a drink called a Magnolia. Not knowing the drink, he grabbed his favorite bottle of tequila, squeezed some of those fresh Mexican limes and of course added a little orange liqueur. He named his new concoction the Daisy, another beautiful flower. The lady loved her new drink. And you guessed it…The Spanish word for Daisy, Margarita.
My favorite is the story of Dallas socialite Margarita Sames. Margarita loved to impress her friends with drinks she created in her Acapulco vacation home. Again it was tequila, Cointreau and fresh limes that had her guests gushing over her latest creation. Once back in Dallas her friends began requesting Margaritas Drink. What began as a small secret amongst friends became all the rage in the Dallas social scene. It was just a matter of time before the word got out. Soon Margaritas drink became the Margarita and one of the most popular drinks in the world was born.
One thing is certain the Margarita got popular fast. In December 1953, Esquire magazine named the Margarita the Drink of the Month. By 1956 the word Margarita is cited in the Oxford English Dictionary. The world over is hypnotized by this mysterious cocktail.
The most important thing about these stories is to share them with your friends. Everyone loves a good story and a little bit of trivia, you will be the hit of the party with your new found knowledge. When you teach somebody something you share a little bit of yourself, and they will remember you forever. Congratulations! You have just made a friend by engaging them with a little story and dazzling them with your Margarita expertise.
Now go out into the world and share your newfound knowledge – Long live the Margarita!
Pablo
Pablo Agave, aka: Anthony Georgoulis
The Margarita is now one of the most popular cocktails in world. Where did this amazing balance of flavors come from? Who invented it? Where was it first made? What was the inspiration? In this installment of Pablo Agave’s corner we will look at the most popular stories of the margarita’s origin. Below are four versions of its birth, each one of them representing a little margarita magic. Now it is important to note that there are little bars and hotels all over the world (especially in Mexico and the Caribbean) that claim to have been serving margaritas as early as the 1930’s, but these four versions seem to have the most staying power.
In 1938 Bartender Danny Herrera while working at the Rancho del Gloria Bar in Rosarita Beach, Mexico was asked by a young lady to make him a cocktail, she said she was allergic to all alcohol except tequila. Danny looked at his bar, added some orange flavored liqueur (Cointreau), some fresh squeezed lime and the rest was history.
While working at the Foreign Club in Tijuana, Mexico, Enrique Bastaste Gutierrez was so taken by a young starlet at his bar that he created a very special cocktail just for her. It was the early 1940’s and the muse who inspired the drink was named Margarita Consino, hence the name of the drink. It was just a matter of time before the starlet (and the drink) made it big. The young lady shortened her first name to Rita and changed her last name to Heyworth. Rita Heyworth went on to be one of the great sex symbols of the silver screen and her namesake drink has inspired just as much passion.
The bar was Tommy’s Place in Juarez, Mexico, it was 1942. Pancho Morales was stumped when a woman came in and ordered a drink called a Magnolia. Not knowing the drink, he grabbed his favorite bottle of tequila, squeezed some of those fresh Mexican limes and of course added a little orange liqueur. He named his new concoction the Daisy, another beautiful flower. The lady loved her new drink. And you guessed it…The Spanish word for Daisy, Margarita.
My favorite is the story of Dallas socialite Margarita Sames. Margarita loved to impress her friends with drinks she created in her Acapulco vacation home. Again it was tequila, Cointreau and fresh limes that had her guests gushing over her latest creation. Once back in Dallas her friends began requesting Margaritas Drink. What began as a small secret amongst friends became all the rage in the Dallas social scene. It was just a matter of time before the word got out. Soon Margaritas drink became the Margarita and one of the most popular drinks in the world was born.
One thing is certain the Margarita got popular fast. In December 1953, Esquire magazine named the Margarita the Drink of the Month. By 1956 the word Margarita is cited in the Oxford English Dictionary. The world over is hypnotized by this mysterious cocktail.
The most important thing about these stories is to share them with your friends. Everyone loves a good story and a little bit of trivia, you will be the hit of the party with your new found knowledge. When you teach somebody something you share a little bit of yourself, and they will remember you forever. Congratulations! You have just made a friend by engaging them with a little story and dazzling them with your Margarita expertise.
Now go out into the world and share your newfound knowledge – Long live the Margarita!
Pablo
