ONE of the earliest tequila cocktails, the margarita's true origins have been much disputed, but what we do know is, its key ingredient is lime - it marries with the tequila and orange liqueur to create the sweet and tangy flavours so crucial to this drink.

And whether they're floating in a rock glass, or decorating the salted rim, ice and lime are essential. You should be looking for large ice cubes and light, green, soft limes, as they're the juiciest.

Given the iconic nature of the margarita, people are always after tips to make the perfect serve, so what do you need to know about mixing your own?

"First of all, always stick to the exact recipe - too often people are a bit heavy handed with some ingredients over others, and that can really impair the flavour of your margarita," says Karine Tillard, UK brand ambassador, Patron Tequila. "So, use the exact ratio of ingredients that the recipe states to make sure you get that perfect taste."

Her second tips is: "Shake! Shaking a margarita is the best way to blend the ingredients, as well as to ensure the whole drink is properly cooled."

It makes sense to start with a decent bottle of tequila too. Patron Silver Tequila (£44.95, 70cl, The Whisky Exchange) is ideal for margaritas, as its smooth and sweet agave tasting notes work particularly well when combined with citrus.

In honour of Margarita Day, here are three hero serves to get the party started...

1. Classic Margarita

Light, refreshing and super easy to make.

Ingredients: 35ml Patron Silver, 20ml Patron Citronge (or your favourite orange liqueur), 15ml fresh lime juice, 5ml simple syrup, lime wedge for garnish. Kosher salt optional (scroll down to see how to rim the glass).

Method: Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the ingredients, shake vigorously and strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass and garnish with a lime wedge.

2. Frozen Margarita

Dallas' classic, the Frozen Margarita is the ultimate summer cocktail to keep cool under a Stetson and Texas sun; but we're such tequila fans, we've ignored the weather and have already lined up our coupes and placed the lime and salt on the side.

Ingredients: 40ml Patron Silver, 15ml Patron Citronge (or your favourite orange liqueur), 15ml lime juice, 10ml orange juice, 10ml agave syrup, lemon and limes to garnish.

Method: Add the ingredients to blender and fill with ice just above liquid line. Blend until a uniform consistency is achieved (add more ice to blender if desired). Pour into a coupe and garnish with lime and a lemon wheel.

3. La Chispa del Patron

A warm twist on the classic margarita, the chilli kick adds a fiery element to this chic concoction.

Ingredients: 50ml Patron Silver infused with chilli, 25ml Patron Citronge (or orange liqueur of your choice), 25ml lime juice, 5ml sugar syrup, chilli and celery salt to garnish the rim.

Method: For the chilli infused tequila, slice fresh chilli peppers (the amount depends on your preference) and drop them down the neck of the bottle and leave overnight to infuse. Test bottle daily until you've reached desired heat level - approx. two days for a mildly spicy tequila.

Half fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the ingredients, shake vigorously and double strain into a chilled coupette glass. Garnish the rim with chilli and celery salt.

How to rim your glass: Fill a wide shallow dish with kosher salt. Take a wedge of lime and rub it around the outside of the glass to coat with juice. Roll the edge of the glass through the salt, then hold it upside down and tap to knock off any excess salt.