Tyler Mortensen

The Matador is one of those cocktails that slipped through the cracks of cocktail history… but once you try it, you’ll wonder why it ever disappeared.

Back in the 70s and 80s, America was obsessed with the idea of “vacation in a glass.” Pineapple juice dominated bar menus, neon drinks were everywhere, and tequila was finally becoming mainstream. Somewhere in the middle of all that tropical chaos, the Matador was born — a simple three-ingredient drink that tasted like sunshine, surfboards, and skipping work on a Friday.

There’s no famous bartender tied to its creation. No legendary bar.
Just decades of resort menus, airline cocktail booklets, and cruise ships serving this tequila–pineapple classic to anyone needing an escape.

And honestly? That’s the charm.

The Build:
• 2 oz Tequila Comisario
• 1 oz lime juice
• 3 oz pineapple juice
Shake hard, strain, sip, and pretend you’re on a beach somewhere you don’t have responsibilities.

If you love rediscovering forgotten cocktails, the stories behind them, and how they shaped entire eras of drinking culture, stick around — I’ve got a whole lineup coming.

Cheers to lost classics and new favorites.

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