The Margarita is the world's most ordered cocktail and one of the most argued-over in history. Its origin is genuinely contested — at least six credible claims exist, from Baja California to Galveston to Acapulco — but cocktail historian David Wondrich cuts through the mythology with a simpler explanation: the Margarita is a Tequila Daisy, a natural evolution of a cocktail category popular since the 1870s. Margarita is Spanish for daisy. The drink was likely not invented by any one person so much as it arrived inevitably.
The combination of tequila, citrus, and orange liqueur kept coming up. There's a reason for that, one that transcends mere deliciousness.
— David Wondrich, cocktail historianA Contested History
The earliest documented evidence is a 1937 recipe called the Picador in the UK's Café Royal Cocktail Book — tequila, triple sec, and lime in proportions identical to a modern Margarita, predating every named claim by years. In 1936, Iowa newspaper editor James Graham described encountering a tequila daisy in Tijuana. The first appearance of the name "Margarita" in print came in Esquire in December 1953, cementing its place in American drinking culture.
Among the competing origin stories: Carlos "Danny" Herrera at Rancho La Gloria near Tijuana in 1938, supposedly for actress Marjorie King who could only drink tequila; socialite Margaret Sames at an Acapulco Christmas party in 1948; bartender Francisco "Pancho" Morales in Ciudad Juárez on July 4, 1942, improvising when he couldn't remember a different drink a customer ordered. All are plausible. None is definitively proven. The drink almost certainly evolved across the US-Mexico border region throughout the late 1930s and 1940s.
The Classic Spec
The IBA standard is a 10:4:3 ratio — tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice. In practical terms that's 2 oz tequila, ¾ oz triple sec, and just over ½ oz lime. Fresh lime juice is non-negotiable. Bottled lime concentrate produces a noticeably flat, thin drink. The salt rim is traditional but optional — and half-rimming the glass (salting only one side) gives the drinker the choice without committing the whole drink to salt.
On the tequila
Blanco is the classic choice — its unaged agave character is clean and bright, and it doesn't compete with the lime. Reposado adds vanilla and oak notes that soften the acidity. For a classic Margarita, reach for a 100% agave blanco. Mixto tequilas (blended with non-agave sugars) will produce a noticeably thinner drink.
On the triple sec
Cointreau is the benchmark. Its neutral sweetness and dry orange character integrate cleanly with both the tequila and the lime. Grand Marnier — cognac-based — produces a richer, more complex drink sometimes called a "Cadillac Margarita." Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao is an excellent intermediate option with more bitter orange character.
On the salt rim
Kosher salt or flaky sea salt, not table salt. The coarser grind dissolves more slowly on the lip and delivers a cleaner saline hit. Moisten the rim with a spent lime wedge, not water — the citrus oils help the salt adhere and add a faint aromatic note. Half-rim as a matter of courtesy.
Variations
Triple sec replaced entirely with agave syrup. Puts the tequila front and center — every ounce of flavor comes from the agave. An IBA-recognized modern classic.
- 2 oz100% agave blanco tequila
- 1 ozFresh lime juice
- ½ ozAgave syrup
- GarnishLime wedge · optional salt
Mezcal swapped for tequila. The smoky, roasted agave character transforms the drink entirely — same structure, completely different personality.
- 2 ozMezcal
- ¾ ozCointreau or triple sec
- ¾ ozFresh lime juice
- GarnishLime wheel · salt or chili rim
Jalapeño-infused tequila or muddled fresh slices. The heat amplifies the lime's brightness and makes the drink more complex without adding sweetness.
- 2 ozBlanco tequila
- 2–3Fresh jalapeño slices, muddled
- ¾ ozTriple sec
- ¾ ozFresh lime juice
- GarnishLime + jalapeño · salt rim
Grand Marnier replaces triple sec, often with a reposado tequila. The cognac base of Grand Marnier adds richness and depth — the "top shelf" version.
- 2 ozReposado tequila
- ¾ ozGrand Marnier
- ¾ ozFresh lime juice
- GarnishLime wedge · salt rim
The Bottom Line
The Margarita earns its status honestly. It is structurally sound, endlessly riff-able, and forgiving of variation in a way few classic drinks are. The salt rim does genuine work — it suppresses bitterness, enhances sweetness, and makes the lime taste brighter. Use fresh lime. Use 100% agave tequila. Everything else is adjustable.