Rosarito Beach, Mexico, 1938

A showgirl named Rita de la Rosa, known for having lips as red as a rose, frequented an after-hours bar called Rancho La Gloria. She loved to drink, but all hard liquors except Tequila made her fall asleep and miss the parties. Drinking Tequila straight wasn't very ladylike so she asked the owner, Daniel Herrera, if he could come up with a special way to serve Jose Cuervo. After catching Rita's act earlier that night, Daniel improvised a drink inspired by her electrifying performance.

Daniel mixed a jigger of Jose Cuervo Tequila with lime juice for the lime green color of her dress. Then he threw in some triple sec for her seet voice. Daniel, knowing Rita was a girl who knew how to really shake, shook up all theingredients with shaved ice, which imparted that magical gleam from her eyes. And, finally, he crowned the rim of the glass with salt for "the halo that sits upon that lovely angel's head." In Rita's honor, Daniel named the drink after her full name: Margarita. The starstruck girl from Guadalajara, which is famed for its stunningly beautiful women, captured the heart of the world and became an international star after all.