Spring Sault
If you don’t know who Mariano Martinez is, you should. Each time you enjoy a frozen margarita, his name should come to mind. When you’re gathered with some friends, enjoying this unofficial state drink of Texas, a toast to this man is truly in order.
Martinez wasn’t the inventor of the frozen margarita, however, his dreams and hard work paid off, and he popularized the drink to the level at which it’s enjoyed today. In 1971, with a small business loan and $500 of his own money, he established Mariano’s Hacienda. Martinez was a high school dropout, but he had big dreams. That and a little ingenuity led to a concept that revolutionized the frozen margarita. Martinez was inspired by the 7-Eleven chain Slurpee machines. So, he set to work on developing a similar machine which would result in a similar process for tasty adult beverages.
Photo: @bjjohnson714 via Twenty20
Together with his friend Frank Adams, Martinez went to the task of repurposing a soft-serve ice cream machine in order to churn out a frozen margarita. To this day, the machine he created sits in the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Although Martinez couldn’t patent his machine, the concept lives on and is celebrated greatly throughout the state of Texas! You can find fantastic locales in Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas, not to mention smaller stops and points in between, that serve a fantastic frozen margarita. You can also visit Mariano’s Hacienda in Dallas to try one of these signature drinks! In fact, to pay tribute to Martinez’s creation, the city of Dallas established its own Margarita Mile – a self-guided tour through the city’s neighborhoods featuring some of the best margaritas, including an app to help you along the way.
Photo: @mbocast via Twenty20
Designed by the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Margarita Mile and its free app feature amazing Dallas businesses with descriptions of their uniquely popular specialty margaritas. On top of that, the app combines the tour with GPS locator services, allowing for links to various transportation options, negating the need for a designated driver. It also features exclusive deals and prizes for users which are earned through venue check-ins. If you’re looking for a great way to celebrate Mariano Martinez and the frozen margarita, you may want to check it out!
