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The margarita is by far the most popular tequila based cocktail. For me, the margarita means summertime by the pool, but really there is not a bad time to enjoy a delicious margarita. There are many different variations on the margarita recipe, each of which is equally delightful.

There are many different versions of the story of how the margarita was invented. The stories range from a bartender in Tijuana being inspired by a young Rita Hayworth (whose real name was Margarita Cansino) to the bartender at the legendary Balinese Room in Galveston, Texas creating the margarita for singer Peggy Lee in 1948. Most of the stories surrounding the first margarita center around south Texas or the boarder towns in Mexico and most are dedicated to a woman, hence the drinks name.

The original recipe for the tart drink is a combination of tequila, triple sec (which is an orange liqueur), and lime juice served over ice. The traditional margarita is made with fresh lime juice from Mexican limes, or Key limes. Key limes have a thinner skin and are smaller than the traditional limes we have in the US. Key limes are more tart and bitter than the typical limes we are used to in the US. The margarita can also be made with fresh lemon juice which will have a softer flavor than those made with lime juice.

The margarita is served in a wide mouthed glass. The margarita glass is a modified version of the traditional champagne coupe. It is stemware that has a wide mouthed bowl that narrows to a reservoir atop the stem. It is normally about five inches in diameter with a nice rim perfect for rimming with salt or sugar.

There are many different twists on the margarita recipe. The lime or lemon juice can be replaced with strawberry, banana, mango, or many other fruit juices or purees. Sometimes the triple sec will be replaced with another fruit flavored liqueur that is more complimentary to the fruit used. When the lemon or lime juice is replaced with a different fruit, the rim of the margarita glass is usually rimmed with sugar instead of the more traditional salt. Traditionally the margarita is served over ice (or on the rocks), frozen margaritas are quite popular. To enjoy a frozen margarita, the ingredients are all poured into a blender and are blended with ice to create a frothy frozen concoction. While a traditionalist would scoff at using anything other than fresh fruit juices or purees to make a margarita, there are a wide variety of premade mixes available at your local liquor store that will make a perfectly blended drink every time.

Regardless of how you serve a margarita, frozen or on the rocks, with lime juice and salt or with strawberry puree and sugar, a margarita is a delicious drink that will delight any pallet. With all of the different kinds of margaritas, the sky is the limit when making up your favorite tequila based cocktail. There is surely a flavor combination that will suit you, so go out and safely enjoy a delicious margarita at your next happy hour or social gathering.