A rosemary sprig garnish, a cinnamon sugar rim; deck the halls , cocktail style.
This winter twist of the Acapulco classic cocktail, created in 1948 by American socialite Margaret Sames, is easy-to-make for friends and family to enjoy during the festive period.
Serve 'straight up' or 'on the rocks' for those cosy nights in.
30 ml Cointreau
50 ml Blanco Tequila
20 ml Fresh Lime Juice
6 drops Aromatic Bitters
1. Make a cinnamon-sugar rim on your glass
2. Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice
3. Shake vigorously
4. Strain into a cocktail glass
5. Garnish with a Rosemary sprig
Today, the original Margarita has gone on to become a staple in bars and homes alike.
The story of the original Margarita started in 1948 in Acapulco. The Mexican coast had officially transformed into a jet-set destination visited by the who’s who of the time. Margaret “Margarita” Sames, a wealthy American socialite known for hosting notoriously lavish parties with extravagant twists, needed a creation for one of her soirées. Attended by the rich and famous, housing international guests, and often created with elaborate themes, a Margaret Sames party was known to go on for days. For this particular one, she wanted a good daytime cocktail that you could enjoy by the pool. Naturally, she turned to two of her favorite spirits: Cointreau and tequila.
After trying numerous variations, Sames landed on her signature recipe, with lime juice to balance the alcohol and a light dusting of salt on the glass rim for a touch of flair. An immediate success, “The Drink” came to be known as the “Margarita”, a name coined by Sames’s husband, and the recipe spread by word of mouth by Sames’s influential friends.
I wanted to create a good day time cocktail that you could enjoy by the pool.
Margaret Sames
Alfred Cointreau, sixth generation of the Cointreau family
HOW DID COINTREAU EARN ITS PLACE IN ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR COCKTAILS IN THE WORLD?
There is a reason it was one of Sames’s favorite liqueurs. Cointreau acts as a flavor catalyst when mixed into cocktails and has a proven sensory impact. According to an independent study on a variety of Margarita recipes, an original Margarita made with Cointreau demonstrates superior organoleptic qualities and a very aromatic, fresh, and balanced sensory profile. The Margarita holds a special place in Cointreau’s history as well, so much so that the Cointreau family passed the recipe down through the generations.
“My siblings and I used to go to our grandparents’ house regularly and my grandmother taught us how to welcome our friends and guests. This included how to make a margarita. I remember I was hooked after I made my first one with my grandmother. She was the teacher, showing us the appropriate glass to use and which drinks to serve to guests. My grandfather was the storyteller; he told us stories about his grandfather, the creator of Cointreau.”
* Ipsos cocktail study 2017, Crimson & Google Analytics 2017-2019, IWSR 2018 / CGA Mixed Drinks Report Q1 2019 / Business Insider, The 50 best-selling cocktails in the world in 2019
** Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1994
*** Fifteen-panelist study conducted by Institute IMASENS for Cointreau, accredited by COFRAC in September 2017.
