Introduction & Interview by Joseph Chisholm
THAT’S A WRAP! The 2022 Patrón Perfectionists Competitors has come to an exhilarating shut. Yearly, Patrón invitations bartenders from all over the world to showcase their expertise and share their pursuit of perfection. It’s rather more than a cocktail competitors, it’s a journey of discovery, style, and neighborhood. This 12 months after two days of judging, Alex Boon from Pearl Diver Cocktail and Oysters in Melbourne was topped our Australian Champion. Alex is a hospitality icon and Pearl Diver is on the reducing fringe of our business. I sat down with Alex simply after he gained to get an perception into how he was feeling about being Australian Champion.
Alex, you’ve simply been named Australia’s Patrón Perfectionists Champion for 2022. How did you’re feeling holding that trophy? It felt nice, a bit surreal to be sincere. I put a critical quantity of labor into my cocktails and my presentation so it was beautiful to see it repay however there have been some superb drinks and shows from the opposite bartenders additionally.
What was your inspiration for the 60 Palms Highball? The problem requested us to compound flavours utilizing a single ingredient. I selected my favorite fruit, the mango and received inventive with other ways I may manipulate its flavour. The identify of the drink is centred round how many individuals it takes to create one bottle of Patrón tequila, as did my cocktail, which additionally took quite a lot of enter from many alternative folks earlier than I used to be joyful to serve it.
“I put a critical quantity of labor into my cocktails and my presentation so it was beautiful to see it repay however there have been some superb drinks and shows from the opposite bartenders additionally.” Alex Boon
Your garnish for the 60 Palms Highball was a standout – discuss me by way of the method? I needed to make use of mango in three other ways for the garnish to essentially set the stage for the highball to observe. What I ended up with was a really gentle mango and fennel leaf syrup, suspended in that syrup was a mango puree sphere and inside that sphere was a ball of recent mango flesh. The thought was to sip the trio again, let the flavours coat the judges’ palates earlier than sipping by way of the lean, brilliant and bubbly highball. I’m additionally an enormous fan of multi-textured garnishes.
What drew you to make use of Patrón Silver in each your cocktails? Largely its versatility, but in addition with my first cocktail I needed a juxtaposing spirit to face out in opposition to wealthy and candy substances like horchata and honey as I felt Reposado and Añejo tequila would get misplaced.
What made you enter Patrón Perfectionists? Going to Mexico to signify Australia within the finals appears like a lot enjoyable however I additionally actually needed to encourage myself after a really lengthy 12 months and what higher strategy to do it than see what 9 superb bartenders are doing round Australia.
How would you describe your expertise on the Australian Nationwide Last? Tremendous enjoyable, I loved each minute of it. Hanging out with the opposite 9 opponents was nice and everybody introduced their very own character and charisma to the group so it was a pleasure hanging out with all of them and attending to know everybody higher than once we first arrived. The Bacardi workforce additionally made the competitors tremendous relaxed and an pleasing expertise.
Was there one second of the Australian Nationwide Last that stood out for you? The very heated dialog of which 3 condiments we might all select at dinner on the primary night time.
What are you wanting ahead to most in regards to the World Finals? The identical factor I used to be wanting ahead to within the nationals, assembly inspiring folks, seeing what they’re doing on this business, going dwelling a bit higher than after I arrived, fingers crossed with one other trophy in hand.
There can be one other set of challenges for the World Finals, what challenges would you like to see? A velocity spherical could be epic, particularly with the form of these Patrón bottles!
Let’s not beat across the bush, you’re an previous canine and have been in lots of competitions earlier than, however do you continue to get nervous? All the time! Competitors expertise hasn’t taught me to not get nervous, it’s simply taught me to have the ability to disguise it higher.
Can I come into Pearl Diver and benefit from the 60 Palms Highball? You positive can, we can be working each my competitors drinks till I head to Mexico in March.
What’s your oyster suggestion to get pleasure from with Patrón Silver and why? I’d select a Sydney rock oyster that spends its life in areas with excessive natural matter as I believe that umami and vegetal traits would pair splendidly with the grassy and peppery spice of the tequila.
What would you say to bartenders who’re contemplating coming into the competitors subsequent 12 months? Give it a crack! It’s an superior alternative and win, lose or draw you get one thing out of the expertise.
Frankie 50ml PATRÓN Silver 20ml Good Oloroso Sherry 17.5ml Tasmanian Honey 60ml Uncle Tobys Oat Hortchata 1 Pinch Sea Salt Whisk with a small quantity of crushed ice in a milkshake maker and pressure into highball glass over cubed ice. Garnish with Aleppo pepper infused darkish chocolate
60 Palms Highball 45ml PATRÓN Silver 15ml Mango Liquor 15ml Verjuice 20ml Lacto fermented mango syrup 60ml clarified mango juice Carbonated and served over ice in a highball Garnished with mango three-ways sphere
This text is the duvet story within the December problem of Australian Bartender journal.
When you’re interested by competing in Patrón Perfectionists in 2023, attain out to your Bacardi Martini rep.
