National Margarita Day
Transport yourself to a sunny beach with this delicious, refreshing drink that perfectly blends sweet and sour flavors. Cheers!
Drive February bar/restaurant traffic and spirits sales by positioning margaritas as the must-have celebratory drink with blend-off events and limited-edition recipes.
- Host a Margarita Blend-Off competition—invite friends to compete for the best homemade recipe
- Partner with bars/restaurants to feature exclusive margarita specials and tequila promotions
- Create margarita-themed food pairings (Margarita Pie, margarita dips) to drive cross-category sales
- User-generated content campaign: #MyMargaritaDay featuring customer recipes and party photos
National Margarita Day was established to help celebrate this amazing alcoholic beverage. It was founded by Todd McCalla in 2008, along with National Tequila Day, to spread the love of margaritas around the world!
The history of the margarita is a bit mysterious and varied, and several stories describe its origin. One of them says it was invented at Rancho La Gloria, down by Tijuana, when Carlos “Danny” Herrera created the recipe for Marjorie King, a Ziegfield dancer who had a distinct allergy to many spirits.
Another legend says it was invented in Galveston, Texas by Santos Cruz for a favorite patron of his, singer Patty Lee. These are just a couple of the stories of this delicious invention, and no one really knows which one is true. It’s entirely possible that they all are!
A Friendly Note: Do be careful, as Tequila has been known to T’kill’ya if you drink too much (or at least it may make you wish you were dead). So it’s best to know where the limits are.
The good news is that virgin margarita drinks (with the limey-orangey flavor but without the alcohol) can be consumed with much less risk. This is also an excellent option for those who need to work on National Margarita Day but would still like to celebrate with a lunch-time cocktail (or mock-tail).
Host a Margarita Blend-Off
If it doesn’t sound appealing to go out to the restaurants and bars that are hosting National Margarita Day events, it’s always fun to host an event of your own! For instance, invite friends to an after-work Margarita Blend-Off party on a Friday night. Sort of like a bake-off—but it’s about mixing up the perfect ‘Rita instead. Assign different participants to bring the basic ingredients (tequila, triple sec, limes). Of course, for frozen margaritas, blenders will need to be made available. Choose two or three creative mixologists to compete to prove who can make the best margarita. (They can bring their own exotic ingredients to add into the mix.) Everyone can vote on who makes the winningest version of the drink. The great thing about this type of party is that everyone wins because fun is had, and Margaritas are enjoyed!
Choose Tasty Food Pairings
Even a party that revolves around this delectable drink will need some nibbles to balance it out. Margaritas are traditionally served with south-of-the-border tastes such as taquitos, churros, or the simple ‘go-to’ chips and salsa But to really get into the spirit of the day, consider serving Margarita-themed foods! Of course, that will mean giving up some of those precious drink ingredients, but it will totally be worth it. Try a Margarita Pie, which is similar to a Key Lime Pie but adds in some tequila. Some recipes are so easy they don’t even have to be baked, just chilled.Margarita Dip is a hit for those who like to add pizzazz to their fruit (or pretzels for a sweet-and-salty flair). The dip is easy to make, including cream cheese, whipped topping, tequila and lime (of course!).Margarita Grilled Shrimp is an easy appetizer to throw on the grill. Just marinate shrimp ahead of time in a garlicky, lime-y, spicy, tequila-and-triple sec mixture and then grill to perfection!
Wear Festive, Margarita-Inspired Gear
In celebration of this festive occasion, consider inserting lime-green and yellow themes into the wardrobe of the day! Some people like to paint their nails in a shimmery lime green, while others choose to sport a pale green tie with their shirt and trousers. Since the word “margarita” actually translates to “daisy” in Spanish, incorporating daisies into the day’s apparel or décor would be a perfect addition to the festivities. Limes, tequila, salt and triple sec are simple ingredients, and yet they bring about such joy and delight. No matter how big or small, National Margarita Day can be celebrated in all kinds of ways, with adventurous recipes, a party, or just a personal wardrobe nod!
Bonus: Roasted Blueberry Basil Margarita Recipe
A great way to celebrate this day would be to mix up a glass (or pitcher to share) of a unique version of this classic drink. For instance, consider this bonus recipe that is pure heaven in a glass! Roasted Blueberry Basil Margarita 2 Oz Grand Marnier1½ oz Tequila2 oz Lime Juice2½ oz Blueberry Basil Simple Syrup (Wait for it!)Slice Lime, Fresh Blueberries, Basil Leaves, with Salt and Sugar on the Rim Alright, those are the ingredients, now here’s how to make the Syrup! Place a cup of blueberries in the oven on a baking sheet at 400F sprinkled with a bit of salt. Keep an eye on them until 15-20 minutes have passed, or the berries have started to split open in the oven, then pull them out. Mix together 1/2c sugar, and 1/2c water in a small pan, along with 6-8 basil leaves and boil it until the sugar dissolves, and then mix it with the roasted blueberries until it’s thoroughly combined. Blueberry chunks can be left in or run through a strainer, based on personal preference. Then just mix as above and enjoy the refreshing goodness. But enjoying National Margarita Day can be about far more than just getting out the blender and enjoying a drink alone. In fact, all kinds of activities can be planned to gather friends, family, or co-workers to imbibe a collection of tasty beverages.