A Brief History Of The Toreador Cocktail, And How To Make It

Think of tequila-based cocktails and the Margarita may come to one's mind. The next best drink that comes up is Paloma. Both are equally delicious drinks, but did you know they both have a predecessor which carries its own weight in the world of mixology?

Get to know about Toreador, the tequila-based cocktail whose existence was recorded 16 years before Margarita. What makes this cocktail relevant today? How did it first come into being? What is its connection to Margarita and other tequila cocktails? Here’s all you need to know to understand about this understated drink!

Toreador makes for a delicious drink and it's a pity it is not as commonly known as the margarita! When tequila was barely known outside of Mexico, Toreador made its presence in a cocktail book in the West. It seems natural the author wrote about Toreador as it provides a great way to introduce tequila to the world. With its smooth, fruity flavours and strong agave punch, the drink is the right stepping stone into the world of tequila-based cocktails.

A Brief History Of Toreador

In 1937, British bartender William J. Tarling wrote about Toreador in his book, Café Royal Cocktail Book. The bartender, who preferred to be called using his moniker Bill, was on the council of the United Kingdom Bartenders Guild which came into being in 1933. While he mentioned at least 15 tequila cocktails in his book, only two of them withstood the test of time. That includes the Toreador, of course, and Picador.

While it is believed Toreador is the predecessor to the margarita, it is likely that Picador is a proto-Margarita drink. It is made using tequila, lime and Cointreau. Meanwhile, Toreador combines tequila with apricot brandy, fresh lime or lemon juice. The apricot brandy gives the sweetness and fruity notes to the drink and gives centrestage to the flavours of agave.

Here's how Tarling mentioned Toreador in his cocktail book.

30ml Tequila 1/4 Apricot brandy 1/4 Fresh lime or lemon juice Shake

Trivia

Toreador means bullfighter, especially one on horseback! In fact, many of the tequila cocktails mentioned in Tarling's book pay tribute to Mexico's bullfighting tradition Tarling also describes tequila as 'a pale yellow spirit distilled from the Mexican cactus'. Although agave is not technically a cactus.

Toreador Recipe

Ingredients

45 ml Don Julio Blanco 20 ml Apricot brandy liqueur 20 ml freshly squeezed lime juice

Method

Take a shaker, add tequila, apricot brandy and fresh lime juice over ice. Shake the mixture well. Strain it into a chilled glass.

Toreador Variation Recipe

Ingredients

50 ml Don Julio Blanco 25 ml Apricot brandy liqueur 25 ml freshly squeezed lime juice 2.5 ml agave syrup (optional) 4 drops Margarita bitters (optional) Lime zest twist, for garnish

Method

Take a shaker, and add ice to it. Add all the ingredients and shake well. Strain the drink into a chilled coupe glass. Toreador is ready to be served.

While it's perfectly fine to celebrate with a drink, it's important to always consume alcohol in moderation. Serving and drinking responsibly is key.