The margarita was invented by Margarete ‘Margarita’ Sames in 1948, with the wealthy American socialite desirous of a refreshing drink to serve to her guests by the pool before lunch. While tequila was Sames’ favourite spirit, at the time, there were no cocktails that incorporated it (shocking, we know), with tequila traditionally served in classic style in a shot glass, accompanied by salt and a slice of lime.
Having previously enjoyed the unique flavour and complexity of Cointreau, an orange liqueur produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou, France, Sames decided to combine this with tequila. After several iterations, Sames landed on her signature recipe, with lime juice balancing the alcohol and a light dusting of salt on the time adding a touch of flair.
The resultant drink added a touch of European sophistication to classically Mexican flavours. The cocktail was an immediate success with Sames’ guests and quickly became known as the ‘Margarita’, a name coined by Sames’ husband, with the recipe spread by word of mouth through Sames’ friends.
This year, heritage triple sec brand Cointreau has redesigned its instantly recognisable rectangular amber bottle for the first time in nearly 140 years. The iconic silhouette now features a minimal illustration of the historic maison scattered with the liqueur’s key ingredient of oranges and is embellished with Countreau’s signature copper foiling. The maison is now also featured as an engraving on the side of the bottle, lending a textural element to the design. The signature shape of the bottle now has a slightly elongated neck to make pouring the spirit easier.
In deference to this year’s International Margarita Day, taking place on the 22nd of February 2023, we’re sharing four must-know margarita recipes by Cointreau. The quintessential margarita is joined by three cocktails with a twist, with something for every taste.
The Original Margarita
Ingredients
30mL Cointreau
30mL Blanco Tequila
30mL fresh lime juice
Salt for the rim of the glass
Directions
In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled, salt-rimmed glass. To finish, garnish with a lime wheel.
The Berry Margarita
Ingredients
30mL Cointreau
30mL Blanco Tequila
30mL fresh lime juice
4 blackberries
Directions
In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and three blackberries. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with the remaining blackberry.
The Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita
Ingredients
30mL Cointreau
30mL Blanco Tequila
30mL fresh lime juice
3 slices cucumber, plus ribbons for garnish
2 slices jalapeño, plus extra for garnish
Directions
Muddle cucumber slices in a shaker. Add the remaining ingredients and ice to the shaker and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass over ice. Garnish with a cucumber ribbon and a few jalapeño slices.
The Coconut Ginger Margarita
Ingredients
30mL Cointreau
30mL Blanco Tequila
30mL fresh lime juice
30mL coconut water
5 rounds of ginger
Directions
In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine tequila, lime juice, Cointreau, and ginger. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a lime peel and candied ginger.
Recipes courtesy of Cointreau
