“Dateline: San Diego (AP) - Carlos Herrera, known locally as the man who topped a tequila concoction with salt and called it a Margarita, has died. He was 90. Herrera died Monday at Grossmont Hospital. Herrera's relatives say he invented the drink at Rancho La Gloria, a restaurant he opened in 1935 at his home south of Tijuana. He told friends that it was sometime in 1938 or '39 that he decided to mix a jigger of white tequila with lemon juice, shaved ice, triple sec and - the crowning touch - salt. Local legend has it that one of his customers was a showgirl and sometime actress who called herself Marjorie King. She was allergic to all hard liquor except tequila, and she didn't like to drink it straight. That reputedly sent Herrera to experimenting, and he named the result "Margarita" after the actress. From a believer: “I believe this story must have some merit as I remember after arriving in San Diego late in 1958, friends and I made the trek to Rosarito Beach for lobster. There was a favorite bar we stopped at on the old road on our way down, and that was where I first drank a margarita.” Although Herrera was given credit for the frosty drink, according to The Dictionary of American Food and Drink by John F. Mariani, published in 1983, several others have claimed the Margarita as their own: Danny Negrete (1936), Pancho Morales (1942), Enrique Gutierrez (1945), Santos Cruz (1948), and Margaret Sames (1948). The book traces the birth of the margarita to an unidentified creator near the Caliente Racetrack in the 1930's, the place and time Herrera claimed he first mixed a margarita.” Don't ask me - I have no idea. Monday, January 12, 2009
Who invented the Margarita?
“Dateline: San Diego (AP) - Carlos Herrera, known locally as the man who topped a tequila concoction with salt and called it a Margarita, has died. He was 90. Herrera died Monday at Grossmont Hospital. Herrera's relatives say he invented the drink at Rancho La Gloria, a restaurant he opened in 1935 at his home south of Tijuana. He told friends that it was sometime in 1938 or '39 that he decided to mix a jigger of white tequila with lemon juice, shaved ice, triple sec and - the crowning touch - salt. Local legend has it that one of his customers was a showgirl and sometime actress who called herself Marjorie King. She was allergic to all hard liquor except tequila, and she didn't like to drink it straight. That reputedly sent Herrera to experimenting, and he named the result "Margarita" after the actress. From a believer: “I believe this story must have some merit as I remember after arriving in San Diego late in 1958, friends and I made the trek to Rosarito Beach for lobster. There was a favorite bar we stopped at on the old road on our way down, and that was where I first drank a margarita.” Although Herrera was given credit for the frosty drink, according to The Dictionary of American Food and Drink by John F. Mariani, published in 1983, several others have claimed the Margarita as their own: Danny Negrete (1936), Pancho Morales (1942), Enrique Gutierrez (1945), Santos Cruz (1948), and Margaret Sames (1948). The book traces the birth of the margarita to an unidentified creator near the Caliente Racetrack in the 1930's, the place and time Herrera claimed he first mixed a margarita.” Don't ask me - I have no idea. 
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It's very sad to know this man died without ever telling the truth about the Margarita. He did not invent the Margarita. Don Carlos Orozco invented the Margarita in Hussong's Cantina in Ensenada. I knew Carlos, he said it's a great drink that everyone should enjoy! But he knew in his heart that he invented it.
ReplyDeleteAnd so does his family and the people of Ensenada.
Ok, perhaps he did. Thanks for adding another name to the mix.
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