Wednesday, Feb. 22, is National Margarita Day. Like so many recipes, the provenance of the cocktail is a subject of debate, with one popular account holding that Mexican restaurateur Carlos “Danny” Herrera created the drink in 1938 for Marjorie King, a former Ziegfeld dancer who was allergic to many spirits, but not to tequila.
While a limited number of places around town are offering discounts on the cocktail none quite captures the spirit of the holiday more than the “margrarita towers” popularized by Mad Dog & Beans Mexican Cantina. Each tower, which contains 100 ounces of tequila-fueled goodness, rises true to its name several feet above the bar. The towers are served to parties of four or more and are available at either of the restaurant’s two locations — in the Financial District at 83 Pearl Street, 212-269-1177, and in Midtown at 5 East 38th Street, 646-998-5722.