Twist in the cocktail

On National Margarita Day celebrated in the US today, check out these city restaurants and bars that have given a quirky rendition to the popular drink

There is no clarity on what the exact origin of the classic cocktail Margarita is, but many of the different theories make for interesting anecdotes. One of them goes that in 1936, a bartender in Mexico created the cocktail — made of tequila, triple sec orange liqueur and lime juice — as a wedding gift for his sister-in-law, whose name was Margarita. Another theory says that a different bartender in Mexico made the drink for a showgirl who was allergic to all other liquor apart from tequila. He named it Margarita because her name was Marjorie, and that’s the closest Spanish alternative. But the most plausible one is that the cocktail was an offshoot of The Daisy, a drink that was popular in the US in the 1930s and ’40s, with the variation being called Margarita since that’s the Spanish word for ‘daisy’.

There are many other possible origin stories, but one thing’s a fact — it is one of the world’s most popular cocktails. And although the traditional recipe is as simple as counting “one, two, three”, there are some city restaurants that make hatke versions of the drink. On National Margarita Day that’s celebrated in the US today, we present five of these.

Berry tasty

Blueberry isn’t the only fruit that you can flavour a Margarita with. You can also use strawberries, which is what the restaurant at a Juhu hotel does. They use two strawberries to muddle the shaker that the cocktail is made in, and even add a slice of the berry to garnish the drink.

Time 2 pm to 1.30 am 
At Gadda da Vida, Novotel, Balraj Sahni Road, Juhu. 
Call 66934444 
Cost Rs 1,299

A sour turn

A restaurant in Lower Parel serves a drink called Margarita sour. “The idea behind it is to have a Margarita and a sour-style cocktail together in one glass,” says mixologist Izler Thomas, meaning the cocktail has egg whites and garnished with Angostura bitters. Thomas adds that the cocktail is also imbibed with a nutty flavour thanks to the addition of vanilla syrup and passion fruit puree.

Time 11 am to 1 am 
At Café Panama, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Lower Parel. 
Call 9988214444 
Cost Rs 650

Fruity flavours

The cocktail gets a Konkan makeover at this chain of restaurants, with the addition of kokum, which adds a sour kick to the drink. But the sweetness from muddled apple also ensures that this Margarita has a balance of flavours.

Time 12 pm to 12 am 
At All Sassy Spoon outlets across the city 
Call 9920003500 (Nariman Point) 
Cost Rs 695

Feeling blue

A Juhu hotspot adds a touch of fresh blueberries to its Margarita, apart from infusing it with the zing of lemongrass. Both the ingredients are muddled in a shaker, before the three traditional ingredients — tequila, triple sec and lime juice – are added to it. This is double-strained into a coupe glass, before being garnished with a slice of dehydrated lime and fresh mint leaves.

Time 6 pm to 1 am 
At Estella, Nichani Kutir Building, Juhu. 
Call 26619955 
Cost Rs 850

Spicing it up

A newly opened bar in BKC has given the Margarita a desi twist. Bartender Allan D’Souza tells us, “As we are all aware, India is a country famous for different types of herbs and spices. Keeping that in mind, we have created the masala Margarita, which will give you the real flavours of India with a little hint of Mexico.” He adds that the spices used are cinnamon, cardamom, star anise and clove.

Time 12.30 pm to 1.30 am 
At Someplace Else, Jio World Drive, BKC. 
Call 35051111 
Cost Rs 990

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