The Starving Musician Recipes
Margarita Sames' Original December 1948 Margarita
Makes 1 large or 2 regular drinks
Of all the stories of the margarita's origin, to
me the one about Texas socialite Margaret "Margarita" Sames making them for
friends who dared her to create a new drink at her
Acapulco home over Christmas 1948 seems the most plausible; there's not a
margarita-type recipe in any of my pre-1948 cookbooks or bar books, and
several of the Sames' famous friends said to have been present (hotelier
Nick Hilton, Tail O' the Cock owner Shelton McHenry, Hotel Bel-Aire owner
Joseph Drown; movie stars Lana Turner and John Wayne) had the power to make
the drink famous or served it at their own establishments.
This recipe is
from the notes I took when Margarita Sames was on a TV talk show in the
early 1990's. Some important points: 1. On the show Margarita Sames said no
blenders ever, and Cointreau, not Triple sec. 2. On the show Mrs. Sames used
3 jiggers tequila, 1 jigger Cointreau, and 1 jigger lime juice but said
about the tequila, "or you can do 2" which is probably why "original"
recipes vary. 3. Mrs. Sames stirred the drink and did not strain it.
Finally, she also said spreading the salt out on a paper towel works best
for salting the glasses, instead of using a saucer or the margarita salt
container.
lime wedge
kosher salt or margarita salt
1 jigger Cointreau
3 jiggers tequila (or 2)
1 jigger freshly squeezed lime juice
Ice
Lime slice for garnish, if desired.
Spread the salt on a paper towel. Rub the lime wedge on the rim of a
margarita glass; Dip the rim in salt and tap off the excess. Set aside. In a
small glass pitcher combine Cointreau, tequila, lime juice, and a small
handful of ice. Stir well with a bar spoon or martini stirrer and pour into
the glass, ice and all. Float a lime slice on top if you like.
Margaritas can easily be made in any quantity following the ratio of 1 part
Cointreau, 3 parts tequila (or two parts if you prefer), and 1 part freshly
squeezed lime juice. Add some lime slices to the pitcher.
Randi's Alcohol-free version: Mix thoroughly with a bar spoon 3
jiggers freshly-squeezed orange juice, a small dash orange extract, 3
jiggers lime juice, 1 jigger water, 1-2 teaspoons simple syrup (or to
taste), and a dash of salt. Add ice, stir again, pour into glass, and float
a lime slice on top.
Recipes ©2004 Randi Reed
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