Who was Margarita? A Celebrity, Showgirl or Socialite?

There are at least 10 stories purporting to be the true origin of this sweet, sour, salty party in a glass. Not surprisingly, many center around a mysterious, seductive woman as the inspiration. The 1992 obituary of Carlos Herrara (San Diego) named him "the man who topped the tequila concoction with salt and called it a Margarita." Herrara's relatives say he invented the cocktail in 1938 or '39 when he decided to combine tequila with lemon juice, shaved ice and triple sec -- topping the blend off with a layer of salt on the rim of the glass. His idea for the name came from a showgirl who called herself Marjorie King who apparently was allergic to all hard alcohol except for tequila. It was in her honor that he called his drink a "Margarita."

Another legend places the birth of this cocktail in 1940s Hollywood by Enrique Bastante Gutierez, a former cocktail champion who mixed drinks for some of the world's most famous film stars. Apparently actress Rita Hayworth was one of his loyal customers and he invented the drink especially for her, whose real name was Margarita . . .

Yet one more story surrounds American socialite Margarita Sames who was notorious for her house parties in Acapulco during the late '40s. Always wanting to impress her glamorous society guests she came up with the idea to mix up a new drink to chase away the hot Mexican sun. According to legend the "Margarita" was a hit and "kept the party going for two weeks."

Contemporary bartenders have continued to refine the Margarita and the discovery of the triple orange liqueur from Italy, GranGala, has added to finesse this forties fave.