Cheers to 75 Years With Us at These Local Hotspots
There are many claims to the creation of the margarita, but the prevailing attribution goes to Dallas socialite Margaret Sames, who reportedly invented the drink at her vacation home in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1948. Legend has it that she mixed Cointreau (an iconic French orange liqueur made with water, sugar, alcohol and orange peels), tequila and fresh lime juice together, and the resulting cocktail was a hit among her friends. margarita in orange county
Since then, the iconic cocktail has taken the world by storm thanks to its easy-to-remember recipe and symphony of zesty flavors. And it just so happens that The Original Margarita recipe happens to be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year! In partnership with Cointreau, which was produced in 1875 by Edouard Cointreau, local Orange County outposts, including StyleWeekOC at Fashion Island, VEA Newport Beach, Brixton and restaurants like Red O, Great Maple and Cucina Enoteca, are pulling out all the stops to give the margarita the proper toast its deserves. So raise a glass and cheers to the years with us as we celebrate the history of this classic concoction!
PQ: “A Margarita without Cointreau is not worth its salt.”—Margaret “Margarita” Sames, Acapulco, 1948
StyleWeekOC at Fashion Island
Sip in style this month during the much-anticipated StyleWeekOC (Sept. 14-17) at Fashion Island—Newport Beach’s premier retail center! This destination-worthy fashion event brings together the trendsetting elite, fusing California chic with high-end glamor. Guests can expect everything from runway presentations and in-store shopping parties to an influencer panel and an exclusive fall issue release party for Fashion Island Magazine that’s sponsored by Cointreau! This release party will take place on Friday night at VEA Newport Beach and will serve as a preview of StyleWeekOC‘s main event the following day with keynote speaker Vanessa Hudgens and WWD. Enter to win tickets to this invite-only VIP release party on Instagram, where you can enjoy a specialty Barbados Marg at VEA’s VIEW Restaurant & Lounge, made with Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum, lime juice, orgeat, Cointreau and Angostura bitters— topped off with a fresh lime wheel and an orchid.
Drink: Barbados Marg
Ingredients: Cointreau, Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum, lime juice, orgeat, Angostura bitters, fresh lime wheel and an orchid
RED O “Taste of Mexico”
Take your celebrations south of the border with a night out at RED O—one of Newport Beach’s chicest Mexican restaurants. From novelty dishes to flaming cocktails and festive music, this Fashion Island staple transports guests to a sultry, resort-style setting, and we couldn’t think of a better place to commemorate the margarita’s 75th anniversary. Sip back and relax as you indulge in a specialty Berry Berry Margarita made with Cointreau, blanco tequila, lemon juice, crème de mûre and blackberry liqueur.
Drink: Berry Berry Margarita
Ingredients: Cointreau, blanco tequila, lemon juice, crème de mûre and blackberry liqueur
Margarita in Orange County
Great Maple
A popular brunch spot in Newport Beach, Fashion Island’s Great Maple blends vintage charm with modern sophistication, yielding an ambiance that’s as delectable as the dishes themselves.
And in honor of the margarita’s 75th anniversary, the restaurant is shaking things up with a new tequila cocktail (best enjoyed on the shaded patio after some shopping). Crafted with Cointreau, tequila, fresh lime juice, fresh watermelon juice and a chile-lime rim, the Sippin’ Pretty is the perfect refresher for a warm September day.
Drink: Sippin’ Pretty
Ingredients: Cointreau, tequila, fresh lime juice, fresh watermelon juice and a chile-lime rim
Cucina Enoteca
Grab your main squeeze and saddle up for a flavorful escapade at Cucina Enoteca! This modern Italian kitchen seamlessly blends rustic charm with seasonal flavors, making it a popular spot for a midday bite or an evening out. And since we’re commemorating the time-honored margarita, you’ll want to give their limited edition cocktail a taste. Aptly named Worth the Squeeze, this zesty libation marries Cointreau, reposado tequila, amaro, agave syrup, lime juice, lemon juice, orange bitters and foaming bitters to create the perfect sun-kissed sipper. Pair it with the fried goat cheese stuffed squash blossoms, bluefin tuna tartare or focaccia slab with roasted tomato, cultured herb butter and sea salt.
Drink: Worth the Squeeze
Ingredients: Cointreau, reposado tequila, amaro, agave syrup, lime juice, lemon juice, orange bitters and foaming bitters
Margarita in Orange County
Brixton
We’re just a little bit obsessed with Brixton hats, and believe it or not, this SoCal-based brand was born out of a garage in Oceanside! The brand has since taken off, now with brick-and-mortar stores up and down the coast of California—including one at OC’s Fashion Island. And while Brixton draws much of its inspiration from vintage designs and classic silhouettes, the brand is always innovating, which is why it’s no surprise they’ve released a custom hat in partnership with Cointreau to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Original Margarita. This classic, wide-brimmed cap is made of 100% wool felt and features a symmetrical front pinch, an orange grosgrain band, a blue leather band and the signature Cointreau stamp on the back. When we say “sip in style,” this is what we mean.
Make at Home
Drink: The Original Margarita in orange county
Ingredients: Cointreau (30 ml), blanco tequila (50 ml), fresh lime juice (20 ml)
