On May 5, 1862, the Mexican Army, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza, fought the French Empire and won the Battle of Puebla. The victory of the smaller Mexican force against a larger French force was a boost to morale for the Mexicans. While this victory was generally celebrated in Mexico, it really caught on in the US, with annual celebrations starting in California in 1863!
These days, we think of Cinco de Mayo as the Mexican equivalent of St. Patrick’s Day, because that’s pretty much how it’s celebrated! Every year on May 5, in cantinas all across the US you’ll hear raucous singing, dancing, and of course drinking! Few “holidays” are as much fun! General Zaragoza must have really liked his margaritas, because aside from tequila shots, it’s the only game in town!
As it turns out, celebrating this holiday on a boat is even more fun than in a cantina. Go figure! However, to make a good margarita, you have to mix some ingredients. Jimmy Buffett’s idea of a perfect margarita (and he would know) includes 2 types of tequila, triplesec, and a few other ingredients. Mixing all this stuff up on a boat, especially if you don’t have much room to setup your margarita bar, can be a real drag. Also, by the end of the day everything gets sticky. You may want to consider pre-mixing!
With the idea that it’s always better to have more than less, here’s the recipe for 1 gallon of Jimmy’s perfect margarita:
- 56 oz Gold Tequila
- 14 oz Silver Tequila
- 14 oz Triple Sec
- 7 oz Cointreau or Curacao
- 35 oz Rose’s Lime Juice
Mix all that up into a gallon jug and haul it aboard! Then when you are ready to celebrate the Battle of Puebla, just pour it into a cup with ice! No muss, no fuss! If you want to get fancy, salt that Red Solo and squeeze some fresh lime over it!
Of course if margaritas aren’t your thing, we would suggest a nice tequila like Milagro for your sipping pleasure!
¡Salud!