National Margarita Day - February 22, 2025

Every February 22, we come together for National Margarita Day to pay homage to our favorite celebratory cocktail. The margarita — triple sec, tequila, and lime juice — was created in 1938 in Mexico and is widely considered the official drink of having fun. It’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, and that’s never truer than on National Margarita Day. So get out a shaker, pull out your frozen margarita machine, or head to your local watering hole and order a margarita. Up, on ice, or on the rocks, you can’t go wrong. Salud!

History of National Margarita Day

The earliest occurrence of the famed cocktail was in 1938 by the father of the drink Carlos “Danny” Herrera. He made it in his restaurant located in Baja California, for a famous customer named Marjorie King, a dancer on the hit American theatrical broadway “Ziegfeld follies” because she was allergic to spirits but not tequila — and just like that our beloved drink was born.

The problem is, Herrera isn’t the only person to claim to be the OG margarita maker. One of them was Francisco “Pancho” Morales who was a bartender in Mexico, who first mixed the cocktail in 1942 in Juárez, Mexico and then left to become a US citizen and work as a milkman for 25 years. He has the backing of the official Mexican newspaper — Notimex.

The wildest story is this last one. Margarita Sames, a Dallas “higher class” citizen, believed she created the drink in her vacation home for her guests in Acapulco, Mexico in 1948. Tommy Hilton (yes… that Hilton) who was friends with Margarita attended the party, and then brought it back to his hotel chains and put it on the menu. But before he could even breath, Jose Cuervo, of the famous tequila brand, claimed he was already running ad campaigns for the drink in 1945, with the catchphrase, “Margarita: It’s more than a girl’s name.” Regardless of where the drink was first made, one thing is for certain — everyone was having fun.

Thankfully, margaritas come in a ton of different varieties, it’s not a surprise why 76% of Americans enjoy a nice margarita. From strawberry and peach to mango and berry, to slightly stronger drinks with beer, to even having healthier versions like skinny margaritas and sportier cocktails (just swap out the triple sec for a Gatorade). It doesn’t matter if you’re at a bar, at home on the sofa or just finished an important meeting; grab the nearest fruit, tequila, triple sec and mix that baby up to the rhythm of “one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor”. But do drink responsibly, too much tequila has been known T’kill’ya!

National Margarita Day timeline

1953

Esquire falls in love with margaritas

On the December issue, the margarita was named drink of the month.

1938

The creation of the margarita.

Carlos “Danny” Herrera honors a customer by giving her the first-ever margarita.

1500s

The first tequila drink in modern times.

After the Spanish ran out of their own brandy, they started to distill agave to produce tequila.

1000 BC

First alcoholic drink from Agave.

The first alcoholic drink from Agave is produced by the Aztecs, the indigenous people of Mexico.

National Margarita Day FAQs

Are margaritas even healthy?

You can get 13% or even more vitamin C in one glass of a simple 3-ingredient margarita required for your daily intake. It’s also absolutely gluten-free.

How do you make margaritas?

Measure the tequila, lime juice and triple sec into a cocktail shaker and add a large scoop of ice. Cover and shake until the shaker is frosty, about 20-30 seconds.

What is the most convenient way to make margaritas?

Thanks to modern technology we now have machines that make margaritas. Gather a group of your friends and propose to pitch in money to rent a margarita machine. Then have the time of your lives sipping on margaritas and partying till the sun comes up (or just keep going).

5 Facts About Margaritas That Will Blow Your Mind

World record largest margarita

The largest margarita glass is made in Las Vegas. It took 300 hours and 60 people to finish it.

World’s expensive margarita

At $64,360.25, you’ll get a diamond and the most luxurious cocktail margarita.

Record margarita consumption in America

In 2008, 185,000 margaritas per hour were being consumed in America.

Record high imports of tequila

America’s love for margarita forced it to bring in 38.21 million gallons.

World Margarita Championship

Renowned bartenders from Tucson come together to compete for the best margarita.

National Margarita Day Activities

Make it a margarita night

No better way to celebrate National Margarita Day than with a margarita night! Get out the blender, grab a bag of ice on the way home, and get blending and shaking! Challenge your friends to bring creative mix-ins, like mango or lychee.

Pair Tacos and margaritas, a match made in heaven

Head to your favorite Mexican restaurant to enjoy one of the great pairings, tacos and margaritas. Invite your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, your boss, your enemies, even. With margaritas and tacos, it’ll be a party.

Tour de tequila

The tequila makes the margarita. Invite some friends over and have them each bring a different bottle of tequila for a tequila tasting night. Enjoy the different flavors each tequila brings to the margaritas.

Why We Love National Margarita Day

They bring the fun

The drink in your hand can say a lot about you, and when that drink is a margarita, it says, “I’m fun!” In a recent National Today study, respondents reported that both male and female margarita-drinkers seem more “energetic and outgoing.” Bartender, margaritas for everyone!

They are delicious

Smooth tequila, sweet triple sec, fresh lime, the surprising hint of salt on the rim — margaritas are truly a delight for the taste buds. And with so many varieties of tequila, fruits, and sweeteners to choose from, we are looking forward to being surprised and delighted by new margarita flavors for many happy hours to come.

Blended or on the rocks?

A blended margarita is like an alcoholic Slurpee, but then you do have to deal with the brain freeze factor. A margarita on the rocks is liquid and refreshing, but does leave you licking ice cubes to get to the very last drop. It’s a conundrum and a well-worn battle at the bar: which is better, blended or on the rocks? Will we ever know the answer? Guess we’ll just have to keep drinking to find out.

Also on Sat Feb 22, 2025...