Paul Kushner
When the sun is high in the summer sky, many Americans and Mexicans, as well as people all around the world, order one of the most iconic cocktails out there: the margarita.
It’s the perfect blend of sour, sweet, and booze, balanced out by the legendary salted rim, and is one of the most pleasurable drinks you can experience.
But what about the frozen margarita? Who had the genius idea to make the perfect summer drink even more unbelievably perfect for scorching hot days? Keep reading to find out the history of the frozen margarita and how to make one yourself.
How to Make a Frozen Margarita
Generally, you can follow this recipe for a classic margarita and know that you’re serving up the original. This is enough to make a single cocktail.
Frozen Margarita
A frozen margarita has identical ingredients to a regular margarita, so you can use this recipe for both. However, depending on who you ask, a margarita is made in different ways.
Ingredients
- Tequila blanco - 1.5 ounces (45ml)
- Orange liqueur (can be generic, but preferably Grand Marinier or Cointreau) - 1.5 ounces (45ml)
- Fresh lime juice (has to be fresh) - 1 ounce (30ml)
- Garnish - salt rim
- Garnish - lime wheel or wedge
Instructions
- Add crushed ice or ice and water to a margarita glass (martini glass if that is all you have)
- Add all of your liquid ingredients to a blender.
- Add ice to about the ⅔ mark and blend on high.
- Discard the ice from your glass. Line the rim with lime juice and roll in salt until sufficiently covered.
- Pour icy mixture directly into the glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
- Enjoy!
History of the Frozen Margarita
While there are many claims as to who may have invented the original margarita, the frozen margarita has a much more solid origin story.
In 1971, Mariano Martinez opened his restaurant, aptly named Mariano’s, in Dallas, Texas. It quickly became well-known for serving up some of the best fajitas and margaritas around, and people began to pack themselves into every seat available to have a taste.
However, Mariano noticed that something was wrong. They were too busy. A happy problem, right? Well, the biggest issue was that with so many orders for margaritas, his bartenders weren’t able to put out a consistent cocktail.
Some were boozier than others, while some had little to no alcohol at all. He had to figure out a way to pump out identical margaritas to everyone who ordered one, but how?
The answer came from a surprising place: 7/11—specifically, their iconic Slurpee machines. It was a lightbulb moment for Martinez, who immediately recognized that he could do the same thing for his margaritas.
He repurposed an old soft serve machine and began slinging out his signature frozen margaritas to the masses. His bartenders were able to quickly pour out the icy concoction, and the consistency issue was solved.
Without his innovative contribution, the frozen margarita wouldn’t be nearly as popular as it is today, and bars everywhere would still struggle to make large quantities of the drink at a consistent quality.
Cheers!
Unless you have an ice cream machine on hand, you’ll need a blender for this recipe. Otherwise, you can substitute the blender for a Boston shaker and crushed ice with no straining needed. They’re so tasty, you’ll want a whole pitcher!
Mix up one of these delicious classics the next time you’re feeling thirsty using our amazing recipe and let us know what you think in the comments below!
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