How One Woman’s Allergy Sparked the Margarita We Love Today

Let’s be honest—when you’re standing at the bar, unsure of what to order, a margarita is always a solid choice. On the rocks, frozen, or straight up, it’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser, effortlessly fitting into everything from beach days to late-night happy hours. But while we all know the sweet-and-tart perfection of a margarita, few of us know how it actually came to be.

The truth? Like many iconic cocktails, its origins are a bit hazy—blurry, you might say, like the end of a night with a few too many. But one story, in particular, stands out, and it starts with an allergy.

A Sip of Necessity in 1938

Picture this: it’s the late ‘30s, and Carlos “Danny” Herrera is running a lively restaurant along the Mexican coast, somewhere between Rosarito and Tijuana. His bar is buzzing with tourists, laughter, and the clink of cocktail shakers. Among his regulars is a former dancer named Marjorie King. She’s vibrant, social—and allergic to just about every spirit except tequila.

But tequila back then wasn’t exactly the smooth-sipping liquor we know today. It was rough, fiery, and more of a “hold your nose and take the shot” experience. Marjorie wanted a drink she could enjoy—something balanced, not just a burn.

So, Herrera did what any good bartender would do—he experimented. He mixed tequila with lime juice and a splash of orange liqueur, sweetened it up just right, and poured it over ice. The result? A cocktail that didn’t just suit Marjorie’s needs—it became an instant classic.

And just like that, the margarita was born. Or was it?

Shaken Up Origin Stories

The margarita’s history, much like the drink itself, has a few twists. Some say it was actually invented a few years later, in 1941, when a bartender named Don Carlos Orozco served a drink to a German ambassador’s daughter named—you guessed it—Margarita.

Others believe the cocktail is an evolution of the “Daisy,” a popular pre-Prohibition drink made with brandy. When Americans flocked across the border during Prohibition, craving their favorites, Mexican bartenders often swapped tequila for other spirits they didn’t have on hand. The Spanish word for “daisy”? Margarita.

No matter which version you believe, one thing’s clear: the margarita had the perfect ingredients—tequila, lime, and orange liqueur—to stand the test of time. And while brands like Cointreau claim they were the “original” triple sec in that first glass, the truth is, we may never know.

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Today, the margarita is more than just a cocktail—it’s a vibe. It’s the drink you order when you need to loosen up, when you’re celebrating life’s little wins, or when you just need an escape (even if it’s only to your kitchen).

So, this National Margarita Day (Feb. 22), whether you’re sipping a classic on the rocks or blending up a frozen strawberry twist, raise your glass to Marjorie King—the woman who just wanted a drink she could enjoy—and ended up giving the world a classic.

Cheers to that.