Today is National Margarita Day. (No joke.)

Like most cocktail lore, there are conflicting sources about the origins of the margarita, but  one story is: The first margarita was created in 1948 by Margaret “Margarita” Sames, a Dallas Socialite who “had a penchant for tequila, and loved Cointreau.” During one party at her Acapulco vacation home - which is said to have lasted two weeks - she served the spirits mixed with fresh lime juice and garnished the rim of the glass with salt.

It is personally my favorite drink. I prefer it old school - on the rocks with salt.
But there are so many different varieties now. What is yours?

....a body shot with the salt on the nape of the girl's neck.

I get a brain freeze from frozen Margaritas.

Now I know what taste beverage to start with tonight at happy hour.

Los Sombreros in South Scottsdale or TQLA in Mesa.

Blended please with some fruit and an umbrella!
Maybe poolside.

In a good way! I have had many friends say my margs are the best - to qouote the great philosopher Socrates - oops - I mean James Buffet - they are indeed the "frozen concoction that helps me hang on".

The perfect marg is quite simple. If the use some kind of sweet-and-sour mix - run for the hills!
Anyway...

2 oz GOOD tequila - this is REALLY important... does not have to be $100 a bottle stuff, if it is TOO good it is wasted in the mix - but jose cuervo gold SUCKS... try Casadores, Coralejo, Don Julio, Patron, etc.  "Silvers" will work great for mixing, Reposado  is better - works for me - but lost on most folks... Anejo should be sipped... actually Horintas Sauza Reposado is excellent for Margs - and good price at Costco and Bevmo for 1.5 ml

1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice - believe it or not EQUALLY important as tequila - but way cheaper... this little detail kicks it WAAAY up.

1 oz orange liqueur - this is the most flexible of ingredients - I like Cointreau, Gran Manier is very nice, Patron Orange is solid... Bols is best tasting 'lower-end' triple sec... Hiram Walker makes a kick-ass 60 proof triple sec.

My amateur mixologist options, add one of the following:
1-2 oz fresh squeezed grapefruit juice - a salty perro margarita...
1-2 oz fresh squeezed OJ - this is an 'impuro margarita'...
1/2 - 1 oz Pama (substitute POM) nice pomegranate version,  obviously Pama has more ZIP... but anything fresh squeezed kicks it up a notch.

shake with ICE - 1 or 2 more and call it a day....

It is the "frozen concoction that helps me hang on"... and Knob Creek on the rocks....

My personal favorite that I can find here in Phoenix easily and is reasonable is Three Amigos.

But perhaps you should come over and we should compare notes up close and personal

Misty - I would love to shake you a marg... I will bring the ingredients -  I will even let you handle my shaker if you want! You just sit back and savor.