Refreshing, versatile, and easy to make. It’s no surprise the Margarita is one of the world’s favorite cocktails. Created in 1948 by Margaret Sames, the original recipe is simple and has remained unchanged since the beginning: Cointreau, tequila blanco, fresh lime juice, and a salt rim. In fact, Cointreau and the Margarita are so inseparable that Sames famously proclaimed,
A Margarita without Cointreau is not worth its salt.
Margaret Sames
Since its inception, this timeless concoction has gone on to become a true classic and inspired countless variations.
Today, the original Margarita has gone on to become a staple in bars and homes alike.
The story of the original Margarita started in 1948 in Acapulco. The Mexican coast had officially transformed into a jet-set destination visited by the who’s who of the time. Margaret “Margarita” Sames, a wealthy American socialite known for hosting notoriously lavish parties with extravagant twists, needed a creation for one of her soirées. Attended by the rich and famous, housing international guests, and often created with elaborate themes, a Margaret Sames party was known to go on for days. For this particular one, she wanted a good daytime cocktail that you could enjoy by the pool. Naturally, she turned to two of her favorite spirits: Cointreau and tequila.
After trying numerous variations, Sames landed on her signature recipe, with lime juice to balance the alcohol and a light dusting of salt on the glass rim for a touch of flair. An immediate success, “The Drink” came to be known as the “Margarita”, a name coined by Sames’s husband, and the recipe spread by word of mouth by Sames’s influential friends.
I wanted to create a good day time cocktail that you could enjoy by the pool.
Margaret Sames
Alfred Cointreau, sixth generation of the Cointreau family
HOW DID COINTREAU EARN ITS PLACE IN ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR COCKTAILS IN THE WORLD?
There is a reason it was one of Sames’s favorite liqueurs. Cointreau acts as a flavor catalyst when mixed into cocktails and has a proven sensory impact. According to an independent study on a variety of Margarita recipes, an original Margarita made with Cointreau demonstrates superior organoleptic qualities and a very aromatic, fresh, and balanced sensory profile. The Margarita holds a special place in Cointreau’s history as well, so much so that the Cointreau family passed the recipe down through the generations.
“My siblings and I used to go to our grandparents’ house regularly and my grandmother taught us how to welcome our friends and guests. This included how to make a margarita. I remember I was hooked after I made my first one with my grandmother. She was the teacher, showing us the appropriate glass to use and which drinks to serve to guests. My grandfather was the storyteller; he told us stories about his grandfather, the creator of Cointreau.”
30 ml Cointreau
50 ml blanco tequila
20 ml fresh lime juice
1. Make a salt rim on your glass
2. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice
3. Shake vigorously
4. Strain into a Margarita glass
5. Garnish with a lime wheel
"Salt is one of the easiest and best ways to put a twist on the original Margarita."
There are countless twists on the Margarita recipe, but what about its garnish? It turns out the salt plays an important role in the Margarita’s personality.
Historically, salt has been known as a powerful flavor enhancer. Try a Margarita with and without salt and you will find that the flavor is more complex in the salty version. Why? Because salt makes the taste buds more sensitive. Plus, as it does for food, saltiness balances out bitterness and brings out the sweet notes.
PLAY WITH IT
There are many varieties of salt coming from all around the world, but they fall into two categories: sea salt, which is harvested by evaporating ocean water and has no additives, and mineral salt, an iron-rich salt that is found underground and comes in many shapes and colors.
COINTREAU’S FAVORITE SALTS
When creating Cointreau, Édouard Cointreau traveled to the four corners of the world to source the most superior oranges. And this internationalism is part of what makes Cointreau’s flavor so unique. The same can be said for salts; the origin brings a certain nuance to the flavor and can put a subtle spin on your recipes.
The mythical fleur de sel from France’s Atlantic coast. Known for its texture, flavor, and finesse, this is a must for any home mixologist or chef.
Considered the purest in the world, this mineral salt’s pretty hue comes from its high iron content.
This frosty looking mineral salt could be mistaken for snowflakes if you didn’t know better. Hailing from Egypt’s White Desert, it’s one of the most refined salts in the world.
This rare salt is extracted from the Iranian mountains and is dotted with a surprising sapphire blue color. On the flavor front, it brings a subtle, almost lemony acidity.
This dark salt is a mix of sea salt and activated charcoal-rich black lava rock. The salt has a distinct, slightly smoky flavor.
Fleur de sel, dried orange peel, rosemary
Black Persian salt, dried lemon peel, thyme
Blue Persian salt, fresh Szechuan button
Pink Himalayan salt, Timut pepper
A PROVEN SENSORY IMPACT
The renowned Margarita cocktail, when prepared with Cointreau liqueur, demonstrates outstanding organoleptic qualities and a very aromatic, fresh, and balanced sensory profile.
COINTREAU’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE MARGARITA COCKTAIL
Eye — The Cointreau-based Margarita is perceived as fresh and visually appealing.
Nose — The Cointreau recipe has a superior aromatic intensity. It is also richer in citrus, green, floral, and fruity notes (orange and mandarin pulp).
Palate — A Margarita made with Cointreau is very fruity and offers an optimal acidity-sweetness balance. It also has a long finish on the palate.
***
THE ORIGINAL MARGARITA MIX, THE PERFECT TOOL TO ENJOY A COINTREAU MARGARITA PARTY !
THIS PLAYLIST IS A COMBINATION OF :
Find the playlist here
* Ipsos cocktail study 2017, Crimson & Google Analytics 2017-2019, IWSR 2018 / CGA Mixed Drinks Report Q1 2019 / Business Insider, The 50 best-selling cocktails in the world in 2019
** Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1994
*** Fifteen-panelist study conducted by Institute IMASENS for Cointreau, accredited by COFRAC in September 2017.
Discover our special food pairings recipes and enjoy a margarita with a delicious side dish to bring out the flavors and tastes!
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