Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Salted, sugared, frozen or rocks

Your guide to National Margarita Day (plus recipes!)

N9NE Margarita

The N9NE Margarita features a unique logo-inspired twist.

Try to suss out the "real" story concerning the birth of the margarita cocktail and you're likely to get a headache worse than if you had singlehandedly downed a pitcher of the stuff.

There are almost as many "original" margarita stories as there are recipes for the drink.

Perhaps you subscribe to the belief that the drink was born of Texas socialite Margaret Sames in 1948. Or maybe you prefer Hussong's Cantina's tale featuring bartender Don Carlos Orozco and a Margarita Henkel in 1941. Then of course there are the multiple stories centered around Margarita Carmen Dolores Cansino (aka actress Rita Hayworth)...

It's a nearly pointless exercise, says BarMagic of Las Vegas' Tobin Ellis. "What's really more important is who popularized it." And really that would be all of us who have enjoyed the margarita since ... whenever it is that it got to the party.

But whether you like it blended or on the rocks, with salt, sugar or nothing on the rim, fruit-kissed or "original," what's most important is that you enjoy one today. It's National Margarita Day!

Each year, February 22 comes and goes, and sadly, most people don't know it is recognized as THE day to officially celebrate the cocktail of celebration — the Margarita. It's certainly one way to spice up your Monday. Here are a few more:

Hussong's Cantina will celebrate National Margarita Day with Hussong's famed, fresh, hand-squeezed lime Original Margarita for only $5, 7 to 10 p.m. Ladies get their first for free. Nachos, tacos, all call beverages and draft beers are half-price. Men wearing sombreros or ponchos or with moustaches (real or glued on) will get a free tequila shooter and complimentary shot glass to take home. Come prepared to sing along with the rock n' roll mariachis.

• At Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, the winning recipe in the Facebook fan-submitted margarita recipe contest will be served all day and night. Throughout the day, other distinctive Margarita specials will be featured, in addition to providing any patrons who are celebrating a 2/22 birthday with a $22 gift certificate. Anyone named Margarita or Rita will also receive a complimentary bottle of Margaritaville Margarita Mix.

• For the dinero's-no-object set, N9NE Steakhouse at The Palms offers the Ultimate Margarita for $69. The ultra-premium libration blends Herradura Seleccion Suprema Tequila with Grand Marnier 150 Anniversary Edition, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, pomegranate juice and fresh lime.

Tacos & Tequila at the Luxor will honor this highly-anticipated holiday by offering two-for-one Casaritas, T&T's award-winning margarita house margs, all day and night.

• New to McFadden's at the Rio, the Pablo McFadden's bar is will celebrate Mucho Margarita Monday" from 7 p.m. until close. Drink specials: extra shot of tequila with each margarita purchased and $10 margaritas in their yard glasses.

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Now that's one way to drink a margarita!

Rockhouse Bar & Nightclub — the largest seller of margaritas in the country per square foot (according to their own research) — will celebrate the holiday with its 80 oz. guitars ($32) and 100 oz. yards ($35) filled with frozen blended margaritas.

• Or, do it yourself! Celebrate at home with the Herradura Tamarindo Margarita, Tequila Herradura's new twist on the classic recipe, which brings together two of Mexico's most authentic flavors: agave and tamarind.

Ingredients:

9 oz. Tequila Herradura Blanco

1 L tamarind pulp (found in retail locations featuring Hispanic or organic products)

4-6 oz. simple syrup

Juice of two oranges

Juice of two limes

Chili powder and salt

Method: In a container, mix tamarindo pulp, tequila, simple syrup, and juices and shake by hand. Fill half a blender pitcher with ice, add the mix and blend. Serve in margarita glasses rimmed with chili powder and salt or skip the blender and server over ice. Makes six cocktails.

More cocktails, by Cabo Wabo Tequila

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All margaritas should include dessert like the Churro Margarita at Cabo Wabo.

The Churro Margarita

2 oz. Cabo Wabo Añejo Tequila

1 oz. Licor 43

1 oz. Carolans Irish Cream

.25 oz. Tuaca

Cinnamon and sugar for the rim

Shake liquid ingredients with ice and strain into a cinnamon-sugar-rimmed rocks glass over fresh ice.

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Try the savory Guacorita at Cabo Wabo.

The Guacarita

2 oz. Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila

.5 skinned avocado

.25 oz. agave nectar

.5 oz. fresh lime juice

4 cilantro leaves

Place all ingredients into a blender of ice. Blend on high for 10 seconds and pour into a margarita glass. Garnish with a short cilantro sprig.

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Cabo Wabo's Waborita.

The Waborita

Served at Cabo Wabo Las Vegas

1 oz. fresh lime juice

1 oz. Cointreau

2 oz. Cabo Wabo Reposado Tequila

Splash of Grand Marnier

Salt the rim of a large margarita glass. Combine ingredients in a shaker over ice and strain into the glass. Serve with a lime wheel.

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