When you’re downing your favorite drink, the last thing on your mind is its origin. Like, who decided to put those specific ingredients together? Why does it taste so good? And how exactly did they come up with the names? Well, this article perfect for you if you’ve asked yourself this question lately. So, go ahead and grab a drink and take a look at some of the things you didn’t know about your favorite cocktails.

1. The Margarita

Many people have tried to take credit for this delicious drink. One such individual is Margarita Sames, a rich Texas native who claimed that she invented it while vacationing in Acapulco with her friends. Another is by a man named Danny Negrete, who supposedly made it as a wedding gift for his sister-in-law, whose name happened to be Margarita. And lastly is the Mexican bartender Don Carlos Orozco, who prepared the drink specifically for the daughter of a German ambassador. So much confusion over just one drink!

2. The Mint Julep

Before it made its way into pubs, the mint julep was long favored for its supposed medicinal properties, especially among farmers who would drink it first thing in the morning, much like we do with coffee. Southerners loved it so much that it even became the official drink of the Kentucky Derby in 1938! The bourbon was the alcohol of choice because it was very popular in the South, the julapium syrup is of Persian heritage and lastly you have the good old-fashioned mint leaves for that extra kick.

3. Daiquiri

Today, the daiquiri is mostly considered to be a drink for those who can’t seem to handle hard alcohol. But its origins are hardly so mild. There are two parts to the story: First, while patrolling the Caribbean Sea in 1740, Naval Admiral Edward “Old Grog” Vernon began diluting the rum bought in the region with water in lime juice to help his crew stay more sober since they got drunk faster on rum than beer. Then there’s Jennings Cox, who is widely credited for its creation. After running out of gin, Cox substituted it with rum and named the cocktail daiquiri, after Cuban beach. But the sailors’ story sounds better, don’t you think?

4. Moscow Mule

It turns out that the Moscow mule is anything but Russian. While the exact origin isn’t known, it’s common knowledge that the drink was made popular by a Los Angeles pub during the 1940s. As for who invented it? Well, according to a 2007 article in The Wall Street Journal, Wes Price, the head bartender of the aforementioned pub, claimed that he was the one who created it. Despite who was the brains behind the cocktail, the Moscow nule definitely contributed to the love of vodka in the U.S.

5. Martini

The martini wasn’t spared from having fifty ‘leven theories as to who made it. But the most notable one has to do with a gold miner in Martinez, California, who hit the local bar and asked the bartender to make him “the fanciest concoction you can think of.” After doing his thing, the bartender served the drink to the miner who absolutely loved it! So much so that when the miner went to San Francisco, he asked a bartender at a local bar to make him the exact drink… after giving him the recipe, of course.