PATRÓN Perfectionists isn’t simply one other cocktail competitors. It’s a program designed to stimulate, educate and inspire everybody participating. Which works past the 15 very gifted world finalists. Having been on the panel of judges and mentors for this yr’s collection of challenges on the world last occasion in Mexico, we are able to actually say that we’ve been impressed, too.
The setting actually helped. As gorgeous as the pictures of the situation are, they solely inform half the story. Stimulation got here from in every single place – the Hacienda PATRÓN and everybody who makes up the Familia PATRÓN – together with the bartenders and Hacienda PATRÓN staff; the terroir and the bounty of components it yields. Add that to the experience of World Director of On-Commerce Excellence for PATRÓN, and chief of the Perfectionists program, Lauren Mote and the assorted groups who made all of it occur and you’ve got the proper recipe for a world last that made for a really unforgettable expertise.
The challenges
It was all-change this yr. Out goes the one presentation behind the bar situation and as a replacement got here three thrilling challenges unfold over three days. Every took in a unique set-up, drew on totally different aspects of the bartenders’ abilities and supplied invaluable insights and appreciation of Tequila and Mexican tradition in addition to providing a masterclass in hospitality.
Additionally new for PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023: not one however 4 trophies. One for the one who dazzled and delighted the judges most in every problem and one for the PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023 World Winner. Background sorted, right here’s a recap of what has been our favorite week of the yr.
Problem #1: ‘Discipline To Taste‘
Presentation: Bartenders discovered of the problem idea and guidelines half-hour earlier than they started
Take out: Discovering and experimenting with the flavours of Mexico
The primary problem was new and a shock one, happening within the spectacular setting of one of many PATRÓN grower collective’s agave fields. What higher backdrop to showcase an array of fascinating and little-known components from the area? Mamey, yaka, guayaba, xoconoxtle – they will not be acquainted to anybody exterior Mexico however they had been only a few of the delights on show within the ‘Mexican Market Stall’. Extra than simply wanting good, every product was specifically chosen by native skilled and choose, Chef Ana Martorell, for the bartenders to acquaint themselves with and be impressed by. The purpose of the problem? To create a cordial to make use of as a base in a novel and scrumptious highball comprising 45ml of PATRÓN Reposado Tequila topped with unflavoured soda.
With solely 45 minutes to create stated cordial (utilizing a hitherto unknown ingredient plus supporting merchandise from the PATRÓN pantry arrange on web site) this problem examined the bartenders’ skill to suppose on the spot, preserve calm beneath stress and naturally, showcase their understanding of flavour and the best way to make an excellent tasty drink. Which they did. In spades.
There was no verbal presentation, as an alternative the creations had been proffered to judges Ana Martorell, Giulia Cuccurrullo and ourseves by the PATRÓN ready staff, together with a recipe card accomplished by every competitor.
Problem winner: Choni Music, China
Cocktail: Guanabana Highball
45ml PATRÓN Reposado Tequila
60ml Guanabana cordial*
Prime with soda
Garnish: a slice of toasted Guanabana
Glassware: Highball
Technique: Construct
*Guanabana Cordial
250g guanabana
100g honeydew melon
50g inexperienced bell peppers
Lime oleo saccharum (250g caster sugar:4 lime peels)
150ml lime juice
150ml St-Germain Elderflower liqueur
50ml apple vinegar
250ml coconut water
Problem #2: The Tales We Share
Presentation: Behind the enduring Copper bar at Hacienda PATRÓNs ‘La Casona’ wing
Take out: Delving into Mexican tradition
The following day it was over to the fabulous Copper Bar situated in La Casona on the Hacienda PATRÓN. Right here, because the title suggests, the main focus was on storytelling, particularly tales celebrating the ‘esencia’ of Mexico – in different phrases the genuine fact of the nation and its folks. From its artists and folklore to its music and movies, all of those and extra had been delivered to life by our intelligent and artistic bartenders in an unique PATRÓN tequila cocktail.
With advance warning of the problem and a extra acquainted arrange during which to current (i.e. behind the bar), they took immense pleasure in telling their tales and the drinks they impressed. All the pieces from Mayan tattoos, to Mexican cooks and artists was referenced within the eight-minute shows and all types of drinks had been cogitated, deliberated and digested by judges Ivy Combine, LP O’Brien and Harrison Kenney.
Problem winner: Alex Boon, Australia
Cocktail: Fireplace of Love
45ml PATRÓN Silver Tequila
15ml Amontillado Sherry
20ml Thomas Semillion Verjuice
50ml clarified black cherry juice
20ml lacto fermented black cherry syrup
30ml pasilla & jalapeno chilli steeped milk
Garnish: Edible chocolate/cherry gel cherry
Glassware: Volcano Mountain Glass
Technique: Carbonated utilizing drive carbonation and poured from decanter into chilled glass.
Problem #3: Mi Mesa Es Tu Mesa
Presentation: On the desk
Take out: Embracing the artwork of hospitality and delivering a memorable expertise for the company
The ultimate problem noticed yet one more format: two eating tables positioned within the centre of the Copper Bar. LP O’Brien, Giulia Cuccurrullo, Ivy Combine and Haba Flores presided over desk one, whereas desk two was taken up by Harrison Kenney, Ana Martorell, Tara Fougner and we’re pleased to say, we had been there too. Not your common arrange admittedly, however this, one other new strand to this system, wasn’t your common problem.
Right here the bartenders needed to design a memorable desk aspect hospitality expertise, that includes a neat PATRÓN Tequila serve paired alongside an excellent tasty non-alcoholic creation that introduced out the most effective in each nostril and flavour of the neat PATRÓN core variant chosen. Boy, did this one rock their boats. We had been handled to a veritable smorgasbord of thrilling tablescapes and complimentary liquid delights, starting from a Swedish Midsommer celebration to a stroll via a foggy Loch in Scotland.
Problem winner: Max Macauley, United Kingdom
Cocktail: Cranachan, paired with PATRÓN Añejo Tequila
80ml contemporary raspberry juice
60ml honeybush tea
20ml Scots Pine Oleo
10ml lapsang glycerite
8ml raspberry vinegar
0.3g lactic acid resolution
1.5ml salt resolution
75ml Nearly Burnt Oat Cream
Garnish: Honey tuille with raspberry mud and a campfire spritz
Glassware: Quaich (a standard Scottish ingesting vessel)
After 45 shows unfold over three days (plus a bonus Velocity Rack problem – only for enjoyable and to boost consciousness and cash for charities in Mexico), rounded up with an impressive celebration dinner by the splendidly energetic Chef Ana Martorell, it was time for the scores to be totalled up and the PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023 winners to be introduced. And whilst you’ve most likely seen the outcomes throughout social media, that doesn’t imply it isn’t value saying once more. Give it up for the problem winners, and the wonderful Mor Koral, founding father of Salt & Spirit firm in Tel Aviv for taking the highest total spot.
“For me the PATRÓN Perfectionists has been a journey that began in 2017, after I first took half in this system in Tel Aviv. Since then, I’ve been dreaming of constructing it to the worldwide last at Hacienda PATRÓN, in Mexico. I’m so extremely excited to have been in a position to be a part of this wonderful group of individuals and rejoice my tradition, rituals and components alongside PATRÓN Tequila in its very dwelling. Thanks everybody for embracing the tales and creations, I’ve shared with you, from my fellow bartenders to the judges and the PATRÓN staff. I can not wait to contribute to some inspiring initiatives with the PATRÓN Familia again dwelling in Israel and world wide with the worldwide bartending group!”
For extra from Mor, tune in to the unique PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023 podcast episode, on April 20.
Mor, Mor, Mor – The PATRÓN Perfectionists 2023 world winner’s drinks
From left to proper:
Discipline to Flavour – A guava horchata primarily based PATRÓN Reposado highball, made with a home-made cordial of guava, honey, rice syrup, lime juice, sherry, cinnamon, and ginger.
The Tales We Share – A cocktail known as El Mundo Magico, impressed by late surrealist and Mexico-resident artist Leonora Carrington, with PATRÓN Reposado, atole de elote, Mexican falernum and lime.
Mi Mesa Es Tu Mesa – Mor put in place a collective ritual round a Mazet type dinner. Rotating across the desk on the rhythm of music, judges participated in establishing the meals feast with typical Israeli components cooked by Mor. A tribute to togetherness and conviviality, Mor’s service featured a neat serve of PATRÓN Silver accompanied by her non-alcoholic creation Frankincense & Extra: clarified ‘labneh’ cheese water, holy honey syrup, lemon juice and water.
The bartenders
And let’s hear it for the complete tremendous star line-up who all did themselves and their respective nations extraordinarily proud. Give them a comply with and sustain with their journeys:
- Jayde Henderson, Sweden @jaydehendo
- Gabriel Pons, France @gabrielpons_lisavi
- Denys Cherkasov, Spain & Portugal @denis_chequebarman
- Telmo Pacheco, Germany, Austria & Switzerland @telmo.noidea
- Andrea Benvegna, Italy @mr.welcome
- Kaleb Berry, UAE @kalebbarryy
- Sabrina Traubner, South Africa @sabrinatraubner
- Mor Koral, Israel @morko.koral
- Lola Lau, Larger China @lolasaysgo
- Alex Boon, Australia @doonbocksaint_
- Adam Alvarado, Mexico @adamabam123
- Max Macauley, UK @maxmacauley
- Logan Demmy, USA @pour_the_oil
- Sprint Tume, Canada @dasht______
- Choni Music, Wild Card winner (China) @choni_song
The judges
From left to proper:
Tara Fougner, co-founder and CEO of Thirsty Media, award-winning journalist, group chief and content material creator from the Bar World Prime 100 Most Influential listing, Miami.
- Haba Flores, beverage marketing consultant beforehand at El Gallo Cantinero, Salon Candela and Matilde Mi Amor, Guadalajara
- Ivy Combine, co-owner of Leyenda bar & Fiasco! wine & spirits store, co-founder of Velocity Rack, and creator of Spirits of Latin America New York.
- LP O’Brien, award-winning mixologist, winner of Netflix’s Drink Masters, CEO and founder LP Drinks and Concentrate on Well being, Washington DC
- Ana Martorell, educator, chef and founding father of eating places Aida and OXA Cocina única, Mexico Metropolis.
- Giulia Cuccurullo, 2020 PATRÓN Perfectionists World Winner and Head Bartender of Artesian, London
- Sandrae Lawrence, The Cocktail Lovers
- Harrison Kenney, 2022 PATRÓN Perfectionists World Winner and GM of Bar Planet, Sydney.
