Los Cabos, Mexico (Feb. 8, 2023) – Given its worldwide popularity, it’s no surprise there’s a National Margarita Day, to be celebrated this year on February 22.
The margarita—widely considered the official drink of having fun—is a tequila-based cocktail said to have originated in Tijuana, Mexico, in the 1930s. Mixologists and history buffs trace its origin to the Prohibition era, when Americans drifted over the border for alcohol where a classic brandy cocktail called the Daisy (Margarita is Spanish for “daisy”) was remade with tequila . The rest, as they say, is history.
Today, the margarita is the most common tequila-based cocktail in the U.S., a growing favorite around the globe, and the overwhelming drink of choice in Los Cabos. Imbibed by millions throughout the year, the margarita—generally shaken and served on the rocks with salt on the rim of the glass—is a simple but splendid mix of tequila, triple sec (orange liqueur), and lime juice, and the perfect combination of sweet and salty, sour and bitter.
Consumed in moderation, you won’t get a hangover drinking tequila, especially if you use high-quality, 100% blue agave tequila. This quintessentially Mexican spirit, the oldest distilled spirit in North America, contains no carbohydrates or sugar and has fewer calories than wine, beer, or cider. Studies show that tequila helps lower blood sugar levels, reduces pain and inflammation, lowers cholesterol, aids in weight loss, improves gastrointestinal health, and improves blood flow.
For National Margarita Day 2023, Pueblo Bonito Resorts asked Gustavo Eduardo Estrada Ortiz, mixologist at Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos Beach Resort, to share his Emerald Green Margarita recipe, which can double as the drink of choice on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). His quaffable concoction, green as Ireland, is a little spicy and very refreshing.
Recipe ingredients for one Margarita are:
- Reposado tequila 2 oz.
- Fresh lime juice 1 oz.
- Natural simple syrup 1 oz.
- Triple sec 1 oz.
- Kiwi 1 piece
- Cherry 1 piece
- Tajin spice. 1 teaspoon
- Ice
Prepare the glass
- Cut a slice of lemon and place it on the rim of your glass. (Gustavo recommends an old-fashioned or similar short cocktail glass).
- Put tajin (a blend of mild chili peppers, lime and sea salt) on a plate and place on the rim of the glass
- Cut a slice of kiwi and a slice of cherry, set aside.
Combine the ingredients
A cocktail shaker is ideal, although you can use any container that you can close and shake.
- Add half of the kiwi to the shaker and mash for 30 seconds.
- Pour the tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, triple sec, and ice into the shaker and shake for 10 seconds. If using a cocktail shaker, shake until it is cold on the outside.
- Place a few ice cubes in the glass, pour the margarita over the ice.
- Spear the slices of kiwi and cherry on a toothpick for a garnish.
Note: Reposado tequila has “rested” in oak barrels for several months, mellowing the spirit and giving it a pale straw color. Gustavo says Reposado tequila accentuates the cocktail’s unique flavors.
Finally, two toasts are appropriate when drinking Pueblo Bonito’s Emerald Green Margarita: Salud (Spanish for good health); and Slainte (pronounced SLAN-cha, Irish Gaelic for cheers).
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