Queen of Burlesque, Dita Von Teese, Introduces Latest Cocktail, the MargaDita

New York, NY - Celebrate Cinco de Mayo and the summer soir�e season with the Cointreau MargaDita - the latest collaboration from Dita Von Teese, International Queen of Burlesque, and Cointreau, the original French triple sec. As the global Cointreauversial ambassador since 2007, Dita Von Teese proudly introduces her latest namesake cocktail, the Cointreau MargaDita, a bold and seductive reinvention of the classic Margarita, the #1 selling cocktail in America.

Dita Von Teese's tasty new libation is a homage to Margarita Sames, the bon vivante Dallas socialite who created the original recipe in 1948 while vacationing at her Acapulco cliffside hacienda. According to Dita Von Teese, "The Cointreau MargaDita is a tantalizing haute-cocktail with a spicy twist."

"Margarita Sames was clearly a strong, confident, and stylish woman well known for her entertaining prowess - qualities that I both admire and, hopefully, embody," says Dita Von Teese. "Her Margarita recipe has been enjoyed for over 60 years and it seemed only natural for me to create my own cocktail as a tribute to this glamorous and charismatic woman."

While there are many claims to the invention of the Margarita, the prevailing credit goes to Margaret "Margarita" Sames, a wealthy Dallas socialite who often vacationed in Acapulco, Mexico and was known for hosting and entertaining. Alongside her husband, Bill, the couple hosted friends at their Cliffside Acapulco hacienda. The year was 1948. Sames wanted to make up a new, refreshing libation that her friends could enjoy poolside. Tequila was her favorite spirit and having tasted and enjoyed Cointreau, she decided to mix the two together. Her mixology attempts were not an immediate success but after a few tries Sames found the perfect combination of tequila, Cointreau and fresh lime juice. She garnished the rim with salt, and, it is said, the cocktail kept the party going for two weeks.

Over the years Bill and Margarita Sames served the drink, or "Margarita's drink" as they called it, to their guests including, hotelier Nick Hilton, Hotel Bel-Air owner Joseph Drown, movie stars Lana Turner and John Wayne among other celebrities. Bill gifted his wife with a glassware set etched with "Margarita" and that is when the drink received its final name.

Dita Von Teese toasts this alluring woman, who unfortunately passed away this past year, by using the classic margarita ingredients as a base for her Cointreau MargaDita cocktail: Cointreau, tequila and fresh lime juice. "I wanted to keep the integrity of the original margarita recipe, but add a personal touch of my own. The juxtaposition of floral notes with spicy elements makes for a seductive twist: aromatic Monin Rose Syrup for a hint of floral, feminine perfume, and a dash of chipotle powder for an unexpected spicy smack. I think Margarita Sames would approve," says Dita Von Teese.

Renowned worldwide for her astounding performances featuring her elaborate signature props and opulent costumes, Dita Von Teese is the International Queen of Burlesque, the global ambassador for Cointreau, and a muse to fashion designers worldwide. With the ability to bring pin-up imagery to life, Dita allows admirers to relive the golden age of femme fatales and glamour girls, while gracing the pages of fashion magazines and starring in events held around the world.

The new namesake cocktail delivers the ideal combination of Cointreau's bitter and sweet orange flavors, earthy tequila undertones, refreshing lime juice, and subtle rose notes, complete with a spicy finish. Dita Von Teese's final tribute to Sames includes a visually stunning yellow rose petal delicately floating atop. The beautiful accent represents "the yellow rose of Texas" in honor of Sames' native home state where she also hosted similar fabulous parties.

Established over 160 years ago in Angers, France, Cointreau is one of the world's most famous crystal clear spirits. Cointreau's distinctive amber square-shaped bottle is a global icon, and its subtle taste is a perfect balance of bitter and sweet orange peels grown and meticulously selected for their quality. Cointreau's bright and clean flavor make it an essential ingredient in top shelf cocktails such as the Cosmopolitan, Sidecar, and the White Lady. However, it is probably best known as being a key ingredient in the most popular cocktail in the US - the Original Margarita. Its versatility, defined by its capacity to combine the richness of its flavors and aroma, also make it a perfect choice neat or on ice.

Today, more than 15 million Cointreau bottles are sold worldwide and Cointreau remains the authentic choice of many top bartenders in the smartest and most fashionable bars.

The Cointreau MargaDita is the perfect addition to any summer entertaining soir�e at home. Take advice from Dita Von Teese, and throw a Mexican themed dinner party with an intimate group of friends. Serve the Cointreau MargaDita cocktail in a coup glass with a chipotle and salt rim or pre-batch a pitcher of the MargaDita for easy entertaining and serve on the rocks.

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Cointreau MargaDita

1.5 oz Cointreau
1.5 oz Silver Tequila
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz Monin Rose Syrup
1 pinch Chipotle Spice

Mix all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a chilled coup glass. Garnish with floating organic yellow rose petals. For an added kick, add a chipotle and salt rim.