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Although it is not possible to know the true story of who invented the Margarita, it is likely that its origin was on the U.S.-México border with the most likely version of the drink originating in Cd. Juárez. Although several stories exist as to where the cocktail was invented, the only story with any substance is the story of Pancho Morales who argues that he invented the concoction in Juárez.
The story goes that Moreles was working at a bar in Juárez on July 4, 1942, when his future wife, who happens to be named Margarita walked in and ordered a Magnolia. As Morales told Texas Monthly in 1974, he was unwilling to admit he did not know how to make the Magnolia, so he used tequila with the ingredients he believed went into the Magnolia. The lady took a sip and told him that was not a Magnolia, but that it was “good.” Morales, who was working at Tommy’s Bar in Juárez, told his future wife that he thought she had ordered a Margarita instead of the Magnolia.
Three years after he says he invented the cocktail, Morales immigrated to the US and started working for Price’s Creameries in El Paso.
It is not possible to confirm Morales’ story, but he produced a handwritten recipe for the drink to the Texas Monthly, as well as examples of signs used at the bar to advertise the drinks he invented for the regulars. Morales was known to be a bartender in Juárez at the time and taught how to mix drinks in a local bartender school.
But that is not the end of the story as several people and cities have taken credit for the invention of the drink over time.
Other Versions Of The Origin Of The Margarita
Another invention story for the Margarita involves a man named Danny Negrete who is said to have invented the drink in 1939 at the hotel Garci Crespo in Puebla, as a wedding present. Another version of the story has Carlos “Danny” Herrera inventing the concoction in Jalisco, where tequila comes from and not Puebla as the other story says. In the Jalisco version of the story, Herrera invented the drink because actor Marjorie King was allergic to the ingredients in tequila cocktails so he made her one that used ingredients she could drink.
There are other versions of the origin of the Margarita involving Marjorie King.
Another story, this time originating in Ensenada has the drink being invented in 1941 by Carlos Orozco who is said to have named it after the daughter of the German ambassador attached to México. The German ambassador’s daughter’s name was Margarita Henkel. The bar where the invention allegedly took place was the Hussong’s Cantina in Ensenada which remains open to this day.
Margaret Sames, a socialite from Dallas, has also been said to have invented the drink while throwing a party for friends in Acapulco.
However, these versions of the invention of the Margarita have no supporting documents proving them to be the real invention of the cocktail. Morales has provided some documentation to bolster his claim and absent any other proof, it is possible that his version of the story of the invention of the Margarita is the closest we will get to the real story.
Do you believe the Pancho Morales version?
There are different versions for the origin story of the Margarita and there are also different versions of its recipe. Below is the classic Margarita recipe:
Ingredients:
1.6oz (50ml) of tequila
0.8oz (25ml) of juice from limes
0.8oz (25ml) of Triple sec.
You Will Need:
A jigger
A liquor shaker
A strainer
How To Prepare:
Mix the three ingredients in a liquor shaker with ice. Strain the mixed ingredients into a Margarita glass rimmed with salt.