A Texas History of Frozen Margarita Machines (With Recommendations!)
Discover > Truly Texan > A Texas History of Frozen Margarita Machines (With Recommendations!)
Texas summers are notoriously hot with their triple-degree temperatures and relentless sunshine. In the Lone Star State, a refreshing cocktail is a fabulous way to cool down, and one cocktail does the job particularly well – the frozen margarita.
Texans can be rather particular about their margaritas. In my opinion, the only acceptable frozen margarita is one made with fresh, premium ingredients and measured with precision!
From Frozen Margaritas to Frozen Margarita Machines
It all started in 1971, when Texas legalized selling liquor in restaurants. Mariano Martinez, a humble entrepreneur from Dallas, opened a restaurant called Mariano's Mexican Cuisine. Mariano used his father's margarita recipe, which quickly became a hit in the area. Ultimately, the local demand for this margarita became so high that the restaurant’s staff struggled to keep up. As a result, the bartenders simplified the recipe to stay on top of the orders.
Prompted by rising customer demand, Mariano went on a mission to find a way to stop selling substandard margaritas. It was on a random trip to 7/11 that he had his legendary light-bulb moment. Mariano realized he could borrow the concept of a Slurpee machine to produce frozen margaritas both quickly and consistently. So on May 11, 1971, born out of frustration, Mariano successfully built the world's first margarita machine – an invention that changed happy hour forever.
Frozen Margarita Machine: A Game-Changer
The machine was indeed a game-changer. Word about Mariano's invention quickly spread, and the restaurant gained a reputation as one of the most popular destinations for margaritas in Dallas.
Mariano never attempted to patent his invention. However, it wasn't long before the frozen margarita machine became a staple in many restaurant bars and kitchens, boosting the popularity of Tex-Mex cuisine both in Texas and worldwide.
34 years later, it was time to pay homage to Texas' most significant contribution to the cocktail world. In 2005, honoring the invention as "a classic example of the American entrepreneurial spirit", the world's first frozen margarita machine was put on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. In September 2010, it was listed as one of the Top 10 Inventions from the National Museum of American History's Collection.
For more information on where to find Mariano’s Restaurants, visit https://www.laharanch.com.
Frozen Margarita Machine Recommendations
Margarita machines are indeed one of the great modern culinary inventions. It's a staple for commercial bars and an excellent kitchen appliance for hosting parties at home. Today, you can find endless variations of the margarita machine – some are cutting-edge while others are more basic. We’ve rounded up three of our top picks:
$56.99
Capacity: 64 ounces offers plenty of volume for making margaritas or any frozen drink – perfect for a fun fiesta!
Motor: The powerful motor crushes ice wonderfully, leaving no large chunks behind.
Attachments: The detachable cup rest allows you to place a glass under the spout for easy serving. A drip tray is provided to catch any unwanted mess.
Margaritaville Key West Frozen Concoction Maker with Easy Pour Jar and XL Reservoir
$281.99
Capacity: The 36-ounce blending jar creates tropics-inspired drinks, producing up to 2.5 pitchers of frozen concoctions.
Motor: This machine creates premium shaved ice rather than crushed ice like a normal blender.
Settings: Includes four pre-programmed drink settings, plus an automatic Shave-n-Blend cycle, and manual blend-only/shave-only cycles.
Attachments: The easy-pour jar allows you to mix your concoction, pop open the hatch, and pour it out.
Margaritaville Bali Frozen Concoction Maker with Self-Dispensing Lever and Auto Remix Channel
$359.99
Capacity: The extra-large ice reservoir and blending chamber allows you to shave ice and blend up to 60 ounces of frozen drink.
Motor: Equipped with a premium-crafted blade that automatically shaves ice, serving restaurant-quality frozen drinks.
Settings: The machine comes with four pre-programmed drink settings for margaritas, daiquiris, coladas and smoothies.
Attachments: The on-demand self-dispensing lever lets you and your guests dispense directly into your glasses.
Bonus: A unique remix channel blends and dispenses each serving to produce a restaurant-quality drink.
Elevate your Fourth of July festivities with these Texas-inspired recipes, perfect for backyard barbecues, potlucks, or picnics.
