Celebrate National Michelada Day With This Red-Hot Recipe From Mexico's Velas Resorts

One of the greatest things about cocktails, aside from being refreshing and delicious, is their stories. Trying to trace the inception of your favorite drink usually turns up multiple claims to the original recipe, or a story that's been told so many times by so many people in different countries that it's basically like a game of Telephone, and the original tale has been lost in time. But the stories we love the most are those that can be traced back to one ordinary person who simply had a certain way he liked his drink of choice.

Such is the tale of the Michelada. While it is still up for debate, many people attribute the origin of this unusual Mexican cocktail to a man named Michel Ésper. One version of the story says Ésper liked his beer with ice, lime and salt and when it caught on with other patrons of the Potosino Sports Club, they named it a Michelada, and over time the ingredients evolved. Another version claims Ésper was hungover and added Worcestershire, soy and hot sauces, before naming the drink after himself. Either way, we're sure glad his concoction caught on.

Like most beloved cocktails, the Michelada even has its own day—July 12. On National Michelada Day, lovers of this beer-focused cousin of the Bloody Mary can get as wild as they want with ingredients—chilis, beef jerky, shrimp, bacon, a splash or three of tequila, all of the above—and give thanks to Ésper for his innovation. But for people looking to try the Michelada for the first time, you can't go wrong with this simple recipe from the Velas Resorts in Mexico.

Ingredients:

• Pilsner beer
• 0.5 oz of lime juice
• 1 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp of hot sauce
• Tomato juice (optional)
• Salt

How to Make It:

• Rim a glass with salt and lime.
• Add the juice of the lemons, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. You can also add 3 to 5 tablespoons of tomato juice.
• Pour the beer, mix well and enjoy.