PATRÓN Perfectionists is now open for 2023.
This new year is bringing a new bartender education and engagement program to the heart of this year’s edition. As the cocktail competition has significantly broadened its reach and distinction in the bar world, PATRÓN tequila has extended its long-standing commitment to inspire and support bartenders in growing their skillset with the launch of Academia PATRÓN Perfectionists Education Program. This year, 19 countries and cruise liners will take part in the cocktail competition, with additional countries signing up for the global training modules and workshops.
The entry challenge, called Hometown Hero, will require entrants to develop a cocktail that blends PATRÓN Silver tequila with the bartender’s local culture, using ingredients from a prescribed list, the Pantry. The initial entry submissions will be judged on appeal, appearance, inspiration, and originality.
While exciting new layers have been added to accompany participants on their journey to perfection, the core entry of the program still asks bartenders to create a recipe reflecting their homes and the unwavering commitment to quality that goes into every drop of PATRÓN tequila.
The entry challenge, called Hometown Hero, will require entrants to develop a cocktail that blends PATRÓN Silver tequila with the bartender’s local culture, using ingredients from a prescribed list, the Pantry. The initial entry submissions will be judged on appeal, appearance, inspiration, and originality.
From 1st September to 7th October, bartenders will be invited to attend Academia PATRÓN Perfectionists state roadshows hosted by Joey Chisolm (PATRÓN Tequila Execution Manager), Alex Godfrey (PATRÓN Brand Ambassador) and Harrison Kenney (Global PATRÓN Perfectionist Winner 2022) showcasing educational module “Discovering Deliciousness”.
Brisbane Education Session Monday 19th September - 1pm to 2.30pm Savile Row - 667 Ann St, Fortitude Valley Melbourne Education Session Tuesday 20th September - 1pm to 2.30pm Pearl Diver - 56 Little Bourke St, Melbourne Sydney Education Session Wednesday 21st September - 2pm to 3.30pm Tio's Cerveceria - 4/14 Foster St, Surry Hills POP UPS In addition to the education sessions Harrison and Joseph will be taking over a couple of bars to showcase the versatility of PATRÓN. Brisbane Pop Up Monday 19th September - 6pm to 8pm Savile Row - 667 Ann St, Fortitude Valley Melbourne Pop Up Tuesday 20th September - 6pm to 8pm Nick & Nora’s - 80 Collins Street via, 11 Benson Walk, Melbourne
Focusing on flavors, ingredients, techniques, and topical trends in the tequila category and in mixology, the Academia PATRÓN Perfectionists modules support professional growth as well as the preparation for the PATRÓN Perfectionists competition entry, with entries closing on 7th October.
Following the education and entry stages, each participating country will judge the cocktail creations to shortlist up to 10 bartenders, who will compete in the national final due to take place in November in Sydney. This year’s national finals will engage bartenders across a variety of topics and challenges. The bartenders’ cumulative scores across the challenges will determine the national winner in each market. This year, a special Wild Card Entry will also be selected by a global judge from the contestants of the national finals. All national winners and the Wild Card winner will go on to the much-coveted global finals experience taking place at Hacienda PATRÓN, Mexico, in March 2023. During the global finals, bartenders will undertake a new series of challenges, testing each part of a bartender’s skillset.
Lauren Mote, Global Manager of Program Excellence for PATRÓN tequila, said: “We are incredibly excited for the upcoming 2023 PATRÓN Perfectionists program. The bartenders who enter the Perfectionists have a common thirst for knowledge, growth, and connections. With this enhanced format and the invaluable support of local teams and Brand Ambassadors, we are going to support them throughout their journey as they strive for their personal vision of “perfection” and of their PATRÓN tequila serves and rituals.”
Harrison, global winner of 2022 Perfectionists said “It was a privilege to win the prestigious Global Patrón Perfectionists title for a cocktail that I created, to represent Australia, a country that has one of the greatest bar scenes in the world. I can’t wait to see the calibre of entries for this year and how the talented bartenders of Australia showcase their hero ingredients. Bartenders – if you are thinking about taking part, do it.”
This year’s PATRÓN Perfectionists entries open between 10:00 AEST on 1st September 2022 and 10:59 AEDT on 7th October 2022 and are to be submitted via the entry portal www.academiapatron.com/patronperfectionists
National finalists will be announced by mid-October and receive guidance on the upcoming national final events from the local Brand Ambassadors. For support and queries, contact your local PATRÓN team:
Joseph Chisholm – PATRÓN Tequila Execution Manager – jchisholm@bacardi.com
Alex Godfrey – PATRÓN Brand Ambassador – agodfrey@spiritspecialist.com.au