Southern California has contributed to the creation of new beverage cocktails through the years.  The Margarita was first made at the Tail of the Cock Restaurant on La Cienega Blvd. in Los Angeles by Bartender John Durlesser.  The year was 1939.
On the Sunset Strip the Cock and Bull Restaurant and Lounge launched vodka in California with a drink called the Moscow Mule.  And just down the street at legendary Scandia Restaurant a Viking named Ludwig came up with a drink called the BullShot.
This proved to be something of lifesaver for those suffering from a 'morning after' hangover.  It was made with Akvavit and beef broth, and other mystery life restorers.  In Huntington Beach something called the Harvey Wallbanger enjoyed a bright but somewhat short time of fame.
All of this was brought to mind when this Writer attended the Tequila Patron event,  held in Los Angeles.  This was the contest for the "2018 Margarita of the Year"  with seven competing bartenders and their own new creative Margarita cocktails.  The contestants came from Boston, Seattle, Mexico City, Japan, Spain  and of course one from Los Angeles.
The event was staged in classic Hollywood fashion at the Mack Sennett Studios.  Those of us attending were given a Patron passport listing each cocktail with a photo of the creator and recipe of the drink and after sampling each entry had our passports stamped.  After this we were asked to vote on what was our favorite.  Our vote was for the Passion Fruit Margarita created by Aaron Joseph of Baltimore.  When we left this was leading the field in votes.
To go with these exciting creations there was a wonderful array of appetizers passed by a team of youthful waiters who all looked like applicants for  cinema studios and cameras. The Los Angeles entry was La Margarita created by Jorge Ortega who has been behind the bar at a number of the city's hotspots.  To complete the scene we all had the opportunity to taste the winner of last year's winner, The Coralina Margarita, created by Riesler Morales of Mexico City.
The Patron contest was well attended and for this Writer a visit to the Mack Sennett Studios was a reminder of how much of Hollywood's early cinema was created there.