In this blog we take a deep dive into one of the world’s most refreshing and beloved cocktails - the margarita! Learn about the possible origins of the cocktail, the best places in Pleasant Prairie for margaritas, margarita tips and recipes for your next party and places to source ingredients.

History of the Margarita

Some say the margarita was born in a Mexican restaurant in 1938, where it was poured for a showgirl who only enjoyed tequila. Others attribute the origin to Margaret Sames of Texas in 1948, who created the drink herself at a house party. Perhaps the most on the nose account dates back to the 40’s where a Tijuana bartender purportedly created the drink in honor of Rita Hayworth whose given name was Margarita Casino.

Whether you enjoy your margarita on the rocks or blended to perfection, Pleasant Prairie serves a wide variety of lip-smacking ‘ritas ready for the Gram!
 

Perfect Celebrations for Margaritas

Let’s be honest, margaritas are tasty year round! That said, there are some great holidays perfect for getting together with friends and family. 

National Margarita Day
National Margarita Day is a holiday that is celebrated on February 22nd every year. This holiday is a day dedicated to celebrating margaritas, and many bars and restaurants offer specials and discounts on this day. It's the perfect opportunity to try out a new margarita flavor or enjoy a classic margarita with friends.

Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday that is celebrated on May 5th every year. This holiday commemorates the Mexican army's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla. It's a popular day to drink margaritas and celebrate Mexican culture. Whether you're attending a Cinco de Mayo festival or enjoying margaritas at home, this holiday is the perfect opportunity to indulge in this delicious drink.

Margarita Festival
Margarita festivals are held in many cities across the United States and are a celebration of all things margarita. During these festivals, there are usually several margarita vendors, live music, and food available. It's a great opportunity to try out new margarita flavors and enjoy a fun day out with friends.

National Tequila Day
National Tequila Day is a holiday that is celebrated on July 24th every year. This holiday is a day dedicated to celebrating tequila, the main ingredient in margaritas. Many people choose to celebrate this day by drinking margaritas or trying out other tequila-based drinks.
 

Where to Get the Best Margaritas in Pleasant Prairie, WI

If you're in our neck of the woods and in the mood for a delicious margarita, you're in luck! Pleasant Prairie offers plenty of options for margarita lovers, from classic lime margaritas to creative and unique twists on the classic cocktail. 

Whether you're a local or just passing through, we can help you discover new and exciting spots to enjoy a refreshing and perfectly crafted margarita. So, grab some friends, use our guide below, and get ready to sip your way through Pleasant Prairie!

Iguana Wana Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar

Iguana Wana margaritas are handcrafted using the finest tequilas (over 100 varieties available!). The fruit margaritas at Iguana Wana are unmatched in portion, creativity, and flavor for fruit lovers and those who enjoy the sweeter things in life. The cherry margarita is unique, perfectly balancing sweet and sour.

Their extensive list of tequila, beers, wine, spirits, and cocktails that feature hand-muddled fruits and juices will please everyone at the table. Guests can take one of their signature margaritas to-go (in a sealed bottle).

El Camino Kitchen

El Camino Kitchen’s classic margarita is aptly named The Boss. This one features Don Julio Blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, Grand Marnier, simple syrup, and of course, a salted rim.

If you’re with a group, we highly recommend snagging a pitcher of the mango house margarita. This crowd pleaser features tequila, triple sec, and a splash of their homemade margarita mix. Order this one frozen or on the rocks! Or, stand out from the crowd with their Killer Margarita: house margarita featuring a Coronita. Served frozen or on the rocks.


Anyone feeling a picante (aka spicy) vibe will enjoy the Avocado-Rita. This one features avocado, jalapeños, cilantro, Hornitos Reposado tequila, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and triple sec. We especially appreciate the balanced flavor profile of this signature drink. Salud (cheers) to cocktails that feature fresh produce!

Tequila aficionados will find a lot to love in the wide variety of options at El Camino. 1800, Casamigos, Patrón, Teremana, Cantera Negra, Maestro Dobel Diamante, Hornitos Reposado are a few of your options. View the full tequila list, including Blancos (unaged), Reposados (rested) and Añejos (aged).

Milwaukee Burger Company

Those who love sweet and sour combos will enjoy the Blackberry Patrón Margarita from Milwaukee Burger Company (MBC). This one features Patrón Tequila, Grand Marnier, lemon, lime and blackberry.

MBC is well known for offering creative margarita specials, such as the Mother Nature Margarita, Margarita Flights, Grapefruit Margaritas and more.

For those who want to try their hand at making a margarita from scratch at home, we've got the perfect pointers below!

These are some of the items required to make margaritas at home: glasses, limes, shaker, ice, strainer.

Factors that Make a Great Margarita

Many argue that the beauty of the margarita is in its simplicity! The quintessential ingredients to a margarita are tequila, freshly-squeezed lime juice and an orange liqueur. Of course, the variations and possibilities are endless. If you’re making margs at home, keep the following tips in mind.

Use Quality Ingredients
We recommend using a mid-shelf tequila of the silver or reposado varieties. Save your top-shelf tequila to be served straight up. The sour and fruity qualities of a margarita will often drown out the nuanced flavors of top-shelf offerings.

Whether you’re using just lime, or you’re also including other fruits in your margarita, try to obtain organic, ripe fruit from reputable stores. Definitely take advantage of farmers markets when possible.

Lastly, take care to use a chunky or flaky salt for the rim of your margarita. Kosher salt works well! Using table salt on the rim can lead to an overly salty beverage.

Balance Your Flavors
Like so many things in life, balance is key. Using the right proportion of ingredients and flavors can go a long way in optimizing your margarita. Specifically, try to balance sweet, sour and salty. You can toggle these variables with the amount of alcohol, lime, sugar (fruit or cane sugar), and salt. Few people will enjoy a cloyingly sweet margarita, and no one will enjoy a salt-bomb.

Consistency
A great margarita should have a smooth and consistent texture. This can be achieved by using a blender or shaker to mix the ingredients together thoroughly. Overmixing can lead to a watery texture, while undermixing can result in a gritty texture.

Presentation
Presentation can also play a role in making a great margarita. Serving the drink in a stylish glass with a salt rim and a garnish such as a lime wedge or fresh herbs can make the drink look more appealing and add to the overall experience of drinking a margarita.
 

Classic Margarita Recipes

Below, we've rounded up a few of our favorite margarita recipes that you can easily make at home with just a few simple ingredients. Whether you prefer a classic margarita or something a little more adventurous, these recipes are sure to impress your taste buds and satisfy your craving for a delicious cocktail.

Original Margarita Recipe

We favor an original margarita, and How to Drink had some great tips! For those looking to experiment, we suggest trying different tequilas and even tequila’s smokey cousin, mezcal. 

Ingredients: 

  • 1 oz or 30 ml Lime Juice
  • 1 oz or 30 ml Curaçao 
  • 2 oz or 60 ml Tequila
  • Serve in a Salt Rimmed Coupe
  • Garnish with a Lime Wheel

 

Instructions:

  1. Begin by juicing your lime. 
  2. Then moisten the outside of your coupe glass with a lime wedge, and then rim the outside of the glass with kosher salt. 
  3. Next, add your liquid ingredients to the larger half of your cocktail shaker. 
  4. To the smaller half, add one whole large ice cube and one crack one large ice cube. 
  5. Combine the two shaker halves, and shake for about seven seconds. 
  6. Pour the drink into your glass and garnish it with a lime wheel.

 

Spicy Margarita Recipe

Looking for a way to add a little kick to your classic margarita? Look no further than this spicy margarita recipe! With just a few simple ingredients, this recipe takes the classic margarita to the next level with the addition of fresh jalapeño slices. The heat from the pepper pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the agave syrup and the tartness of the lime juice, creating a deliciously balanced cocktail.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. tequila
  • 1 oz. lime juice
  • 1/2 oz. agave syrup
  • 1/4 jalapeño pepper, sliced
  • Salt, for rimming the glass
  • Lime wedge, for garnish

 

Instructions:

  1. Begin by rimming your glass with salt. To do this, run a lime wedge around the edge of the glass, then dip the glass into a plate of salt until the rim is coated.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the sliced jalapeño with the lime juice and agave syrup until the jalapeño is well broken down.
  3. Add the tequila and ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds.
  4. Strain the mixture into your salt-rimmed glass filled with ice.
  5. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.

 

Fruity Margarita Recipe

This fruity margarita recipe is the perfect way to add some tropical flavor to your cocktail hour. Made with fresh fruit juices and a splash of orange liqueur, this margarita is sure to satisfy your craving for a sweet and tangy summer cocktail.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz. tequila
  • 1 oz. lime juice
  • 1 oz. orange juice
  • 1 oz. pineapple juice
  • 1/2 oz. triple sec or other orange liqueur
  • Salt, for rimming the glass
  • Lime wedge, for garnish

 

Instructions:

  1. Begin by rimming your glass with salt. To do this, run a lime wedge around the edge of the glass, then dip the glass into a plate of salt until the rim is coated.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, lime juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, and triple sec.
  3. Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds.
  4. Strain the mixture into your salt-rimmed glass filled with ice.
  5. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve immediately.

Sip and savor your deliciously fruity margarita, perfect for any summer day.

Make it Your Own! You can customize this recipe by adding or substituting other fruit juices to suit your taste preferences. For example, you could try adding mango or passion fruit juice for a tropical twist.

 

Where to Get Your Margarita Supplies in Pleasant Prairie

Need to make a supply run for your margs? Head to the Shoppes at Prairie Ridge for your alcohol, salt and equipment like glasses and shakers. Target and Costco will have just about everything you need.

We’re super excited to welcome the public to The Pleasant Prairie HarborMarket, debuting in June, July and August of 2023. Don’t miss your opportunity to take advantage of fresh fruit grown locally!

Before the market opens, we encourage you to visit local shops like Stiles Vegetable Farm and Greenhouse where you can purchase locally grown fruits, vegetables and plants.

Visit The Farm on the Curve off of Old Green Bay Road for a farmers market that won’t disappoint! Enjoy fresh fruit, veggies, eggs and more.

 

Trends in Margaritas

Margaritas are a classic cocktail that has been enjoyed for decades, but just like any other beverage, they have also gone through their fair share of trends over the years. Let’s take a look at some of the current margarita trends that are taking the cocktail scene by storm.

  • Spicy Margaritas - Over the last few years, spicy margaritas have become increasingly popular. Made with fresh jalapeño slices or hot sauce, these margaritas add a little heat to the classic cocktail, creating a deliciously balanced and refreshing drink.
  • Fruity Margaritas - Another trend that has been gaining popularity is the use of fresh fruit in margaritas. From mango and peach to watermelon and strawberry, the possibilities for fruity margaritas are endless.
  • Mezcal Margaritas - Mezcal, a smoky and earthy spirit made from agave, has been gaining popularity in recent years, and mezcal margaritas are no exception. Made with mezcal instead of tequila, these margaritas have a unique and complex flavor that is sure to impress.
  • Skinny Margaritas - For those who are watching their calories or just prefer a lighter cocktail, skinny margaritas are a popular trend. Made with fresh lime juice, agave nectar or another natural sweetener, and a low-calorie sweetener, these margaritas are just as delicious as their traditional counterparts, but with fewer calories.
  • Elevated Margaritas - Some mixologists are taking margaritas to the next level by incorporating unique ingredients like bitters, infused syrups, and even edible flowers. These elevated margaritas are not only delicious but also visually stunning.
  • Sparkling Margaritas - Another trend that is gaining popularity is the use of sparkling wine or champagne in margaritas. This adds a touch of elegance to the classic cocktail, making it perfect for special occasions.
  • Smoky Margaritas - Similar to mezcal margaritas, smoky margaritas incorporate smoky flavors into the cocktail. This can be achieved through the use of smoked salt on the rim or by using smoky bitters in the recipe.
  • Sustainable Margaritas - As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, sustainable margaritas are becoming a trend. This involves using organic and locally sourced ingredients and reducing waste by using reusable straws and garnishes.

 

Wrapping Up

Whether you prefer a traditional margarita or a trendy twist on the classic, there is a margarita for everyone. From spicy to fruity to low-calorie and more, the possibilities are nearly endless. Don't forget the classic pairing of margaritas is a set of dips and chips! Read our blog on the best places to dine on chips and dips in Pleasant Prairie.