Wasting Away in Margaritaville

Get ready to start channeling your inner Jimmy Buffett: It's National Margarita Day on Monday, February 22. While there are many stories about the creation of the legendary libation, the most enduring tale centers around socialite Margarita Sames, who "invented" the original margarita in 1948 in Acapulco, Mexico. Looking for...

By Jacquelynn D. Powers

February 19, 2010

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Get ready to start channeling your inner Jimmy Buffett: It's National Margarita Day on Monday, February 22. While there are many stories about the creation of the legendary libation, the most enduring tale centers around socialite Margarita Sames, who "invented" the original margarita in 1948 in Acapulco, Mexico. Looking for a new drink to take the edge off, she blended tequila, Cointreau and fresh lime juice. Apparently, her cocktail kept the party going for two weeks.

Fittingly, Jimmy Buffett, as the unofficial arbiter of all things tequila, will celebrate this "holiday" at his Margaritaville restaurants with drink and food specials. Buffett certainly knows about the infamous cocktail he croons about. His Margaritaville chain of restaurants serves 2.7 million margaritas annually. Locally, there are four Margaritaville locations in Florida, including Key West, Orlando, Myrtle Beach and Panama City Beach.

The margaritas will be flying at Margaritaville as Parrotheads gather to get soused on tequila. Anyone celebrating a birthday on Monday will receive a $22.20 gift certificate to use during a visit to Margaritaville. Additionally, if you were born on 2/22/1922, you will receive complimentary food and beverage throughout the day. (And if you are still drinking margaritas at age 88, good for you!) Oh, and if your name happens to be Margarita or Rita, you will be gifted with a free bottle of Margaritaville margarita mix. No word on whether Buffett will be singing his signature song at any of his locations.

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