History of Margarita: Who Invented it?

The Margarita is one of the most popular cocktails in the world, and it’s easy to see why. The combination of the Classic Margarita with tequila, lime juice and triple sec results in a drink with many nuances.

The Margarita is a cocktail that has evolved over the years and today can be found in various forms. There are the frozen margaritas, a whole variety of Margaritas that are made with different fruits, such as the Strawberry Margarita or the Pineapple Margarita, or even our Margarita Recipe version. The drink originated in Mexico, but has spread all over the world, resulting in a growing number of variations.

Who invented the Margarita?

The Margarita cocktail is a classic margarita recipe that has been around since the early 20th century. The exact date and inventor are still the subject of debate, but there is one theory that has more strength than the rest:

The most widespread and famous Margarita story is the one that says the drink comes from Jalisco, Mexico, and that its creator is Carlos “Danny” Herrera. The drink was born out of an experiment done for actress Marjorie King, who was allergic to a number of ingredients except tequila. So, Carlos proposed her to drink a cocktail with tequila, Cointreau and fresh lime.

Other Origins of the Margarita Drink

However, another version of where the Margarita was invented tells us that it originated in the Cantina Hussong in the city of Ensenada, also in Mexico, and that it was created in 1941.

Carlos Orozco was experimenting with a new creation when suddenly Margarita Henkel, the daughter of the German ambassador to Mexico, entered the cantina. In honor of her name, he named this drink with the already more than famous name of Margarita.

More Origins of the Margarita

However, this is not all, because there are many more versions about the origin of the Margarita:

• It originated in El Paso, Juarez, where on July 4, 1942 Francisco Morales mixed it for the first time. It is supposed that a woman asked him if he could prepare her a drink he had never heard of and, pretending to know her, he improvised what today is the Margarita.
• Another history of the Margarita tells us that it was first made by Danny Negrete, the manager of the Garci-Crespo Hotel. He created the drink for his girlfriend, who loved salt, so he prepared a cocktail to complement it.

Olmeca Altos to Honor the History of the Margarita Cocktail

Whatever the case may be, the Margarita has become one of the most popular drinks on earth. And this is especially true in Mexico, where it is considered an icon of national pride and heritage.

In order to honor this historic drink and its place in Mexican culture, we have created Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila—a premium quality tequila made from 100% blue agave grown in Jalisco state (the heartland of tequila production). And not only that: we have also created Altos Margarita—a unique version of this cocktail.