Celebrate National Margarita Day

Today, February 22, 2023, is National Margarita Day, in Montréal, from where I am writing, everything is fine, despite the slightly cold temperature that makes us want to fly south, but, in short, for now, if you are reading this article, it’s because you feel like enjoying a cocktail on this National Margarita Day, follow us.

The Margarita origin

Let’s start with the history of the famous cocktail. Made with tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice, it is certainly a classic, but its origins are mysterious and various as you can read here.

The most likely explanation is that the Margarita, an American cocktail, not a Mexican one, is derived from the Brandy Daisy (recipe here), according to Wikipedia and what mixologist Xavier Hérit, Grand Marnier’s brand ambassador, told us, the name Margarita is Spanish for Daisy. It was really from the 1950s onwards that the cocktail appeared on menus, starting in Tijuana in Mexico (where Americans went during Prohibition to consume alcohol), California and Texas, and then spreading like wildfire all over the planet.

For Grand Marnier, the story really changed with the arrival of the Cadillac Margarita, which consisted of adding a float of Grand Marnier on top of the Margarita. You can read more about the story right here, and according to this article, there is a bit of Montréal in this recipe as it was first published in 1987 in our English newspaper, The Gazette. It’s an interesting story, isn’t it! While traditional dry triples use a neutral alcohol, Grand Marnier is made with cognac, which enhances the aromas and flavours of the orange. Only one variety of orange is used, which comes from the very aromatic bigaradier tree, known as the bitter or Seville orange.

How to find a great Tequila

Tequila is the basic ingredient of the Margarita cocktail, and it is important to find a premium product. Yet there are so many different ones on the market that it’s hard to know what’s a real one. That’s a question I posed to Patrón’s ambassador to Canada, Marty Pineault. While it is interesting to take a local agave liqueur to make your margarita, the problem is the consistency of the product. While they buy stocks of agave liquor, you have no traceability of the product and you can’t know if one bottle will be exactly as good as the other since the blue agave is not certified, by the way you can have all the tequilas according to their NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) or their name by visiting this link.

Cocktails to celebrate the National Margarita Day

Grand Margarita

Let’s start in grand style with the Grand Margarita (which is nowadays often mixed with the Cadillac Margarita), which is a high-end Margarita recipe and is quite easy to make.

The ingredients

• 1 oz of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge *
• 1 ½ of de Tequila (we recommend a real tequila like Espolon or Patrón)
• ¾ oz of fresh lime juice
• ½ oz of agave or simple syrup
• Lemon slice as garnish and salt

* Don’t hesitate to use the Cuvée Louis-Alexandre or the Centenaire to make your Margarita even more luxurious.. 

Methode

• Fill a flat plate with 2 to 3 mm of fine salt.
• Cut a lime in half and rub half of the rim of a margarita glass.
• Slice a thin slice from one of the limes halves for garnish.
• Turn the glass upside down and gently dip the wet half into the salt.
• Mix the Grand Marnier, tequila and lime juice with ice in a cocktail shaker.
• Shake and strain into your glass and garnish with lime on the side of the glass.

You’re in the mood for something spicy, we have a Margarita recipe just for you!

Spicy Margarita

Marty Pineault, Patrón’s ambassador to Canada, is a big Margarita fan, and while he’s not the biggest fan of changing the classic recipe, one of his favourite variations is the Spicy Margarita (on the cover and just above), the recipe created by Blake Thompson of the Ascent Lounge at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He also loves Tommy’s Margarita.

Ingredients:  

• 1 ½ oz of Patrón Silver infused with jalapeño*.
• ½ oz of flavouring puree (blood orange, mango or fresh beetroot)
• 3 oz of lime juice
• Salt (optional)
• Lime wedges and jalapeño slices for garnish (optional)

Method:  

1. Fill a flat plate with 2 to 3 mm of fine salt.
2. Cut a lime in half and rub half of the rim of a margarita glass.
3. Slice a thin slice from one of the limes halves for garnish.
4. Turn the glass upside down and gently dip the wet half into the salt.
5. Mix all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker.
6. Shake and strain into a double old-fashioned glass with a salt rim.

*Patrón Silver infused with jalapeño:  

1.  Add 2 whole jalapeños cut down the middle and deseeded into 1 bottle of Patrón Silver.
2. Let rest for 12 hours.

Where to enjoy excellent margaritas on this National Margarita Day

Our two guests recommend, in Montréal, either the ACC (Atwater Cocktail Club) where we had the Grand Marnier tasting, the Bar George of the Mount Stephen Hotel or the Cloakroom where you can have a margarita according to your personality (be aware that the place does not have a fixed menu).

In Toronto, the Añejo is certainly a place where it will be party time with its two locations (they are also present in Calgary and Banff), for luxurious and well-made cocktails, the Louix Louis at the St. Regis Toronto is a location not to be missed, otherwise, the Clockwork at the Fairmont Royal York will certainly be festive.

Also, why not try BarChef for a totally different experience or their new concept, Prequel & Co. Apothecary, a bar inspired by the Paris of 1890–1910, which we hope to try very soon.

You can also find some great margarita variations in our Cinco de Mayo article.