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Get inspired to drink your way across America (without ever leaving your backyard) with Margaritaville’s 50 Drinks in 50 States series.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! The largest Cinco de Mayo festival is said to take place in Los Angeles, but since we’ve already toured through California on our 50 States and 50 Drinks tour, the next best stop is undoubtedly Texas where we can combine their traditional Margaritas with a fiesta.
This is probably one of the best holidays of the year for a few reasons:
- It is officially the month of May and summer is in sight!
- Much like St. Patrick’s Day, this is a holiday that brings everyone together.
- This day is celebrated with endless amounts of traditional Mexican food and our favorite beverages – margaritas!
- American’s consume up to 81 million avocados on Cinco de Mayo, according to the California Avocado Commission.
- Often called Cinco de Drinko, this holiday brings out the fiesta in everyone.
Cinco de Mayo runs deep in Texas. It draws more than 50,000 people to San Antonio’s Market Square for several days where they can enjoy live entertainment, shopping, performances and authentic food. There’s a good chance you’ll find people making their way through the crowd with a slushy Margarita in hand.
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the unexpected Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which occurred 50 years prior and is celebrated on September 16.
As with many cocktails, the exact origin of the Margarita is hard to pinpoint but the name was first heard in the 1930s and 40s. The drink gained popularity when the first frozen margarita machine was invented in May 1971 by Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez. The machine, originally a soft-serve ice cream machine, now sits in the Smithsonian National Museum of History.
July will mark the one year anniversary of the Margaritaville restaurant in San Antonio. 
Believe it or not, this was the first Margaritaville in Texas. If you want to continue your Cinco de Mayo celebrations with more good food, music and company, head our way!
While we never turn down a Perfect Margarita, here’s another classic to try at home:
Ingredients (Makes 1 Serving)
• 1 ounce lime juice
• Splash of simple syrup or sprinkle of sugar
• 1 ounce contreau
• 2 ounces tequila (preferably Margaritaville Gold or Silver Tequila)
• Ice cubes
• Coarse salt (optional)
• Lime wedge
Directions
Over the Rocks: Combine all ingredients, minus the salt, in a drink shaker and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into a salt-rimmed glass, if desired, and garnish with the lime wedge.
Frozen: Combine all ingredients, minus the salt, into a blender until smooth and slushy. Pour into a salt-rimmed glass, if desired and garnish with a lime wedge.
A Twist
Try a “Texas Margarita” by adding beer and orange juice to your traditional margarita.
