National Margarita Day: Where to get drink discounts and deals

February 22 is dedicated to paying homage to the classic margarita cocktail. The origins of this fresh, crisp, citrusy drink are murky, but it has become pseudonymous with Mexico thanks to one of its main ingredients, tequila. There is no denying though that it is perfect for any occasion and no better time to enjoy it than on National Margarita Day.

This world-famous and much-loved libation is said to have all five main tasting notes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami, making it a perfectly balanced drink. The basic recipe is simple, a blend of tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice, typically served “frozen” in a glass with salt around the rim.

National Margarita Day: Where to get drink discounts and deals

This National Margarita Day, those who are looking for an excuse to have a tipple, restaurants and watering holes across the country are enticing people to indulge with discounts and deals. Here’s a look at where you can pay homage to the margarita this year.

Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant

All day on Thursday Abuelo’s is offering $7.95 premium margaritas including the El Jefe, Platinum Hand-Shaken Margarita, Raspberry Hibiscus Margarita and Skinny Margarita.

Bahama Breeze Island Grille

Going with the numerical date for National Margarita Day, Bahama Breeze is offering $2.22 classic margaritas all day long.

Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

Likewise, customers can get all House Margarita flavors for $2.22 at Bad Daddy’s all day on National Margarita Day.

Chevys Fresh Mex

In honor of National Margarita Day, Chevys is offering customers $10 margarita flights with flavors including strawberry, mango, and original. The deal is only available at the following locations though:

Chili’s

Chili’s is tempting customers to come in with $5, $6 and $10 specials in commemorative cups on National Margarita Day. These include the following:

Chuy’s

On National Margarita Day, customers at Chuy’s can upgrade a House Rocks ‘Ritas or House Frozen ‘Ritas to a Grande for $2 and you can take the giveaway cup home with you. Also, all day long you can add an extra pour of tequila or orange liqueur for a dollar.

El Torito

Customers at El Torito can enjoy discounted margarita flights (blackberry, mango, and signature) for $10 on National Margarita Day Flavors.

Margaritas Mexican Restaurants

Margs is offering original and classic flavor margaritas for $6 and $1 Camarena Silver Tequila upgrades (except in Pennsylvania). Customers can also get their hands on merch and swag giveaways while supplies last.

Rusty Taco

Rusty Taco is serving all house margaritas at half price all day.

Torchy’s Tacos

Torchy’s Tacos is giving away a $100 gift card, merch and Yeti prize packs including a 45 Tundra cooler for National Margarita Day. In order to participate you must follow the Torchy’s Tacos Instagram account and comment on the National Margarita Day reel and tag two friends. Each comment with two new tagged friends is an entry and there is no limit but entries end at 11:59 pm CST. Winners will be announced on or before 26 February.

Twin Peaks

On National Margarita Day 2024, Twin Peaks is offer the following deals:

History of the margarita and National Margarita Day

“We pay tribute and honor the margarita on this special day of celebration. We so deeply respect and value its place in our history that we have set aside Feb. 22 of every year as National Margarita Day,” states the official webpage for the holiday. National Margarita Day was started in 2008 by Todd McCalla “to spread his love for margaritas around the world.”

The origins of the margarita are lesser known though. Difford’s Guide for Discerning Drinkers runs through a number of the claimed origins. While the cocktail is associated with Mexico thanks to tequila, it may not have been “exactly” of Mexican origin.

Instead it seems to have been an accidental modification of a Victorian era drink known as the ‘daisy’, which is ‘margarita’ in Spanish. A daisy cocktail is “made with citrus juice, sweetened with syrup or a liqueur, and fortified with a base spirit,” explains Difford. The typical recipe for a daisy called for brandy but a slip-up created the ‘tequila daisy’.

In 1936, The owner and editor of the Moville Mail, James Graham, happened upon one of the few remaining post-prohibition bars south of the border in Mexico run by Madden, an Irishman. His saloon had by that time earned the title “The Home of the Famous Tequila Daisy” due to a simple mistake of grabbing the wrong bottle. No harm done though as “the customer was so delighted that he called for another and spread the good news far and wide,” recounted Madden to Graham.