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The Margarita Knows No Bounds
How do we define the Margarita today? Robert Simonson digs into the ever-expanding Margarita-verse to find out. “Just as we now live in a second “’tini” age, in which the definition of what can qualify as a Martini has become more and more elastic, we are simultaneously witnessing the dawn of a new “’rita’” era,” he writes.
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1 in 5 Cocktails Sold in the U.S. is a Margarita.
How a Souped-Up Soft Serve Machine Spawned 50 Glorious Years of Frozen Margs
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How the Margarita Became My Unofficial Family Cocktail
“On some level, I think that’s how the Margarita became my family’s unofficial cocktail, the tinsel to our milestones and mundane gatherings alike,” writes Maggie Hennessy, reflecting on a unifying, decades-long, multi-generation relationship with tequila, lime, and triple sec. “Some years back, we got in the habit of reuniting at strip-mall Mexican-American restaurants, which upgrade to tiny vacations the moment someone decides to order a Margarita. Yet just as often as this cocktail transports me to the beach, I find myself back in the cramped, old yellow kitchen of my childhood home.”
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When you think of a tequila cocktail, there’s probably one that comes to mind first.
In its most classic construction, the Margarita is a delicious drink, the perfect balance of citrus, sweetness, and spirit. With its many riffs and variations, though — and there are many — it’s no surprise that it’s the most popular cocktail in America.
For some, the Margarita’s beauty lies in its true and original incarnation or in a familiar form. For others, it’s just a jumping off point for endless creation. So how did the Margarita achieve its icon status? And for bartenders across the country, how is the Margarita taking shape today? Herein lies Margarita Nation.
Cool or Crime? Bartenders Weigh In on 8 Different Types of Margaritas
CONSENSUS...
NOSTALGICALLY COOL
"I love a Margarita out of a slushy machine. The consistency is there."
CONSENSUS...
'90s EXTRA COOL
"If you already like
a Margarita, you're gonna love it with a float of Grand Marnier on top. [E]verything should be Cadillac'd."
CONSENSUS...
A COOL CRIME
CONSENSUS...
SMOKIN' COOL
"Mezcal for tequila is the substitute of the century right now."
CONSENSUS...
A DEFENDABLE CRIME
"I hate putting
sh*t on the rim of cocktails. I think traditionally salt was to mask bad tequila."
CONSENSUS...
CRIME IN CYNICAL HANDS
"I feel like that's a cost saver and compensation for a lazy shake."
CONSENSUS...
GIMMICKY COOL
"I'd f*ck with one
— not necessarily because the flavor is particularly enlightened. But it's hard to dispute the presentation."
CONSENSUS...
AN INTRIGUING CRIME
"Basically it's sweet umami."
Make Yourself a Marg
PROVE ME WRONG:
The Margarita Is the Madonna of Cocktails
BEST PRACTICES:
How to Make Bartender-Quality Frozen Margaritas Using a Kitchen Blender
COCKTAIL COLLEGE: The Margarita
From Our Partner
"I enjoy a milk
punch, but every time
I hear the word clarified I just think of Nathan Lane in 'The Birdcage': 'One does want a hint of color.'"
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SOURCE: CGA by NIQ
Credits
Co-founders
Joshua Malin
Adam Teeter
Editorial
Tim McKirdy
Joanna Sciarrino
Reporting
Katie Brown
Maggie Hennessy
Michele Herrmann
Robert Simonson
Art Direction
Danielle Grinberg
Design
Sara Pinsonault
Illustrations
Andreas Emil Lund
Sara Pinsonault
Eva Redamonti
Dalbert Vilarino
Photography
Jeff Brown
David Chow
Eric Medsker
Araceli Paz for Casa Mata Group
Rachel Vanni
Prop Styling
Julia Rose
Art Direction
Danielle Grinberg
Design
Sara Pinsonault
Illustrations
Andreas Emil Lund
Sara Pinsonault
Eva Redamonti
Dalbert Vilarino
Photography
Jeff Brown
David Chow
Eric Medsker
Araceli Paz for Casa Mata Group
Rachel Vanni
Prop Styling
Julia Rose
With the Margarita’s nearly 90-year existence, it was inevitable the drink would undergo a little — ahem — doctoring. But when is a riff cool and when is it a crime against a veritable icon? We asked four celebrated bartenders to weigh in on eight Margarita variations, and whether they constitute offenses against or welcomed riffs on this legendary cocktail. The answers, like the Margarita herself, contain multitudes.
