Home of the World's Largest Margarita plans margarita recipe contest to toast the holiday

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 27, 2012 -- On Wednesday, February 22nd, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurants nationwide will be in full swing celebrating their favorite holiday, National Margarita Day. As the record holder for the World's Largest Margarita with Lucky Rita in 2011, Margaritaville knows its margaritas and will celebrate the day with drink specials, a recipe contest with a Key West getaway awarded to the winner and the release of the recipe to Jimmy Buffett's favorite margarita "The Perfect Margarita."

Throughout the day, each location will feature the winning margarita, offering fun food and margarita specials and extending a 22% discount on margarita-related merchandise. All patrons who are celebrating a 2/22 birthday will receive a $22.20 gift certificate to use during their visit and guests celebrating a 2/22/1922 birthday will receive complimentary food and beverage throughout the entire day!

Fun margarita-related facts:

• Margaritaville broke the world record for the World's Largest Margarita (aptly named "Lucky Rita") on October 14, 2011. Lucky Rita held over 8,500 gallons of the concoction and officially kicked-off the opening of Margaritaville's first Casino in Las Vegas.
• Margaritaville restaurants served over 4 million margaritas last year alone.
• Margarita drinkers can thank the Greater Long-nosed Bat of Mexico, which pollinates the blue agave plants from which Tequila is distilled, making margaritas so spectacular.

For the third year, Margaritaville restaurants are encouraging their Facebook fans to participate in the National margarita recipe contest by submitting their favorite recipes.

The winning concoction will be served on National Margarita Day at all restaurant locations in the U.S. thru the end of the month. To become a Facebook fan visit: www.facebook.com/Margaritaville. Recipe submissions will be accepted January 25th through February 7th with voting starting on the 9th up until February 14th.

The winner will be announced on February 15th and will have their recipe featured on the website and margarita served across the country. The winner will also receive a 3 day – 2 night trip to the original Margaritaville restaurant in Key West, a Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker along with a year's supply of Margaritaville Margarita Mix, a $222.00 gift card (for some Margaritaville tequila) and finally a margarita making class with a Margaritaville Mixologist.

The Perfect Margarita (Jimmy's favorite):

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Margaritaville Gold Tequila
• .5 oz Margaritaville Silver Tequila
• .5 oz Triple Sec
• .5 oz Orange Curacao
• .5 oz Lime juice
• 2 Lime Wedges

Directions: Rim margarita glass with salt. Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Squeeze limes and add to tin. Shake vigorously and pour into a margarita glass and enjoy.

About Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville:
The atmosphere is inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett, whose evocative songs inspire a cross-generational yearning for an island adventure. Comprised of retail shops, restaurants, consumer products, hotels and even a national radio station on SiriusXM, Margaritaville delivers a tropical experience where guests can enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of their favorite destination regardless of their current latitude.

Since launching its first location in Key West, Margaritaville has expanded to some of the most popular U.S. destinations, including: New Orleans, Orlando, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Panama City Beach, Glendale, Mohegan Sun Casino, Nashville, Chicago @ Navy Pier, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Jimmy Buffett's at The Beachcomber in Honolulu, Hawaii. International locations can be found in Jamaica, Mexico, Grand Turk, Grand Cayman, the Republic of Panama and Canada. The first Margaritaville Beach Hotel in Pensacola Beach, Florida opened July 2010 and Margaritaville opened its first casino @ The Flamingo in Las Vegas in October 2011. Coming Spring 2012 is a second Margaritaville Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Visit www.margaritaville.com for more information.

Find Margaritaville on Facebook – www.facebook.com/margaritaville