Over the last couple of months, PATRÓN Perfectionists presented an exciting bartender education and engagement program and in return the bartenders of Australia have delivered some amazing cocktails! 157 inspired bartenders submitted their PATRÓN Perfectionists entry and the quality is impressive.
This year’s competition entry challenge called ‘PAINT THE WORLD PATRÓN PALOMA’ asked bartenders to create a PATRÓN PALOMA serve worthy of their favourite city. The drink was to contain PATRÓN Reposado, soda water and a delicious balanced cordial, flavoured with grapefruit, inspired by their city of choice. The initial entry submissions were judged on appeal, appearance, inspiration, and originality.
Alex Godfrey, PATRÓN Tequila Brand Ambassador and Advocacy Execution Executive said: “Travelling to the thirty shortlisted venues and hearing the bartender’s stories about their cocktails and enjoying the incredible drinks has been a wonderful experience. Across the country I have been blown away by how the connections of the chosen cities have been brought to life. My bucket list now has many more cities on it!”
Congratulations to the ten bartenders moving through to the final challenges of the PATRÓN Perfectionists:
- Benjamin Thomson from The Rechabite in Perth and his cocktail ‘Kintsugi Paloma’
- Finn Sugrue from Nectar in Geelong and his cocktail ‘Repertoire’
- Jarah Retana from El Primo Sanchez in Sydney and his cocktail ‘Ikigai Paloma’
- Kayla Saito from the The Mulberry Group (Hazel, Dessous, La Cantina, Common Ground Project, Liminal) in Melbourne and her cocktail ‘I’iwi’
- Leah Dunnigan from The Baxter Inn in Sydney and her cocktail ‘Scotland’s Yards’
- Martin McConnell from Frog’s Hollow Saloon in Brisbane and his cocktail ‘The Neapolitan Way’
- Nick Corletto from Maybe Mae in Adelaide and his cocktail ‘Shimokita Showdown’
- Samuel Cocks from RE in Sydney and his cocktail ‘Myoho Asari’
- Storm Evans from Cantina OK! in Sydney and his cocktail ‘Palome’
- Tom Opie from Odd Culture in Sydney and his cocktail ‘Stone Hijuelos’
Both Martin McConnell and Storm Evans competed in the final last year and are back to try their luck again in 2023. Martin, Storm and the other eight finalists will now present their entry challenge cocktail in addition to another challenge over two days of final judging in Sydney in November. The Australian winner will be announced at a celebration party in mid-November.
The Australian winner will have their name carved into our champions trophy, receive $5000, a trip of a lifetime to Hacienda PATRÓN in 2024 for an experience-filled week with their fellow global finalists, a surprise panel of global mentors, judges, and the Familia PATRÓN in Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, Mexico.
