Patrón Perfectionists crowns UK winner

Global cocktail competition Patrón Perfectionists has named its UK winner as bartender Max Macauley of The Locale in Glasgow, Scotland.

The national finals took place yesterday (16 November) at Seed Library in London.

Macauley rose to victory with his cocktail The Forgotten Fruit, and will go on to represent the UK in the global finals at Hacienda Patrón, Jalisco, Mexico, in March 2023.

He said: “It’s a real milestone for me to be receiving this highly coveted title among such a talented group of bartenders and now friends too.

“I feel truly honoured to be here in London, competing in the final stages of the competition, and I’m excited to head to the Hacienda – the home of Tequila – next year to see what the next challenge brings.”

The global finals will see 18 other national winners and one ‘wild card winner’ from around the world come together to compete.

Macauley continued: “As a group and individually too, Patrón Perfectionists has given us the platform to develop both our aptitude for creativity and professional cocktail-making skills. I’d like to thank the entire Patrón Perfectionists team for the opportunity. Watch this space for what’s next.”

The panel of judges included: Simon Difford of Difford’s Guide; previous UK winner Kat Stanley-White; last year’s Global Perfectionists winner Harrison Kenney; and Giulia Cuccurullo, head bartender at Artesian and Global Perfectionists winner.

The competition featured a series of challenges to test the ‘broader skillset’ of bartenders, showcasing their ‘versatility and craftsmanship’.

The entry challenge was called ‘Hometown Hero’, and tasked bartenders with crafting a cocktail that blends Patrón Tequila with their local culture, using ingredients from a prescribed list.

Competitors then presented their creations to a board of judges and Patrón’s UK brand ambassador, Gian Luca Pavanello Canella.

Macauley’s serve stood out for ‘bold innovation, storytelling and perfection of execution’.

Claire Presland, Patrón Tequila EUROC brand director said: “The calibre of creativity, knowledge of the brand and of Tequila across the challenges were truly impressive. Congratulations to all the participants on their presentations – we are really excited by the contribution these talented bartenders are bringing to the category and to Patrón Tequila.

“Max Macauley’s performance was outstanding, and we cannot wait to take Max to Mexico in March to join the familia for what will be an immersive once-in-a-life-time experience at Hacienda Patrón.”

The competition announced that it will return in 2023 for its eighth year, alongside its new bartender education and engagement programme.