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How to host a margarita tasting
If you haven't made plans to celebrate Cinco de Mayo yet, consider staying home and hosting a margarita tasting. Just a few friends and some great Mexican takeout are all you'll need -- and of course, the know-how to make the perfect 'rita.

Tequila in a haystack
Tracing the authentic story behind the first margarita is like trying to find out who invented Caesar salad. It wasn't Julius.
The most popular legend says this cocktail was concocted in 1948 by Texan Margarita Sames, who mixed it up in her Acapulco hideaway like so:
2-3 jiggers tequila
1 jigger Cointreau
1 jigger lime juice

Her tip for salting the rims of the glasses? Sprinkle the salt on a paper towel, not a saucer.
I also think Cointreau or Grand Marnier are better choices than Triple Sec, which adds a funky flavor. Cointreau has an astringent, clear taste like orange peel, and Grand Marnier has a mellow, honeyed flavor like orange syrup with Cognac.
As for tequila, you don't have to use your best anejo in a maggie. Save it for sipping. My favorite is Sauza's Tres Generaciones, which is refined and pure but disappears like a fantasma in a margarita.
Any blanco that you like is good enough you want to taste a little of the tequila sting to balance the sweetness of the mix.

LA PERFECTA

Yield: One cocktail

1 ¼ oz. El Tesoro Anejo Tequila

½ ounce Grand Marnier

2 oz. margarita mix

1. Shake ingredients and pour into a martini glass.

2. Squeeze a lime wedge over the drink and drop it in. Garnish with two olives.

Source: Z'Tejas

OLIVIA'S EASY 'RITAS

Yield : One pitcher

1 large can frozen Minute Maid limeade mix

½ cup tequila

1 shot of Cointreau or Grand Marnier

3 cups crushed ice

1. Blend till slushy.

2. Have all the accouterments so guests can salt their own glasses, add a squeeze of lime or an extra shot of tequila or Grand Marnier

Source: Olivia Rolon-Valdespino

TACO ROSA'S MARGARITA TRADICIONAL

Yield: One cocktail

2 oz. Sauza Blanco Tequila

1 oz. Triple Sec

5 oz. sweet and sour mix (see recipe below)

Ice

1. Shake ingredients.

2. Pour over ice.

SWEET AND SOUR MIX

Yield: 2 quarts

1 cup orange juice

1 cup lime juice

2 cups lemon juice

4 cups aguamiel (1 ½ cups agave miel diluted with 2 ½ cups warm water)

1. Mix all ingredients. (Agave miel is available at health food grocery stores.)

2. Use as directed in margarita recipes.

TACO ROSA'S MARGARITA DE GRANADA

Yield: One cocktail

2 oz. Sauza Blanco Tequila

1 oz. Triple Sec

3 oz. sweet and sour mix

3 oz. pomegranate juice

Ice

1. Shake ingredients.

2. Pour over ice.