Patrón Perfectionists 2024 opens for entries

Tequila brand Patrón has launched the 2024 edition of its Perfectionists global bartending programme and is now accepting entries.

Bartenders have until 30 September 2023 to enter the 2024 programme. The process will comprise the entry challenge, educational modules focusing on the Patrón Paloma globally, and on the Patrón Margarita cocktail in the US only.

In addition, 15 countries will roll out the complete Patrón Perfectionists programme, which will also incorporate the cocktail competition. Additional countries will focus on local educational events to complement the global Patrón Perfectionists platform calendar.

Lauren Mote, global director of on-trade excellence at Patrón Tequila and leader of the Patrón Perfectionists programme, said: “There’s never been a more exciting time for Tequila in the global bar industry, so we have been supercharging our programme to respond to the needs and aspirations of a thriving and passionate bar community.

“With an engaging platform that encompasses applied learning on our liquid and category, recipe development, techniques and rituals, and Mexican culture, we encourage participants to learn and think outside the box.

“Thanks to the support of our amazing contributors from the Patrón Perfectionists community and global on-trade, we are putting premium, hand-crafted Tequila and the authentic passion of Mexico at the heart of drinks culture, welcoming more bartenders to embrace this vision with us this year.”

Academia Patrón

To reinforce its commitment to inspire and nurture the hospitality industry, Patrón has enhanced its digital hub, Academia Patrón. The online hub aims to be an ‘engaging educational ecosystem’ and will offer mentoring sessions with leading on-trade professionals throughout the year.

Three blocks of educational modules will take place between July 2023 and March 2024, starting with the Paloma Perfecta series. Between July and September this year, the modules in this series will be hosted by Giulia Cuccurullo, of London’s Artesian and the 2020 Patrón Perfectionists winner, Yeray Monforte, of Bad Company in Madrid and the 2019 Perfectionists winner, and Kat Stanley Whyte, of the American Bar at The Savoy in London and the Patrón Perfectionists 2022 UK winner.

The next two educational modules will be Mixologia de Mexico, and World of Agave, which will run from October to December 2023 and January to March 2024, respectively.

In the US, Bacardi-owned Patrón has teamed up with Tales of the Cocktail Foundation to organise the 2024 edition of the programme and competition. The entry challenge will focus on the Patrón Silver Margarita, and will be supported by the Tales Margarita Masters educational module and live workshop. Additional educational and mentoring resources will be made available from now onwards.

For the Paloma entry challenge, bartenders will be tasked with creating a Patrón Paloma, befitting of their favourite city. Each drink should also celebrate the Tequila brand’s commitment to high-quality ingredients. Entries must be submitted by 30 September 2023.

In the US, bartenders will face a similar challenge centred on the Patrón Silver-based Margarita.

Once local shortlists have been compiled from entries submitted by 30 September, each country will select up to 10 entrants, who will have been judged anonymously. They will compete in their local national final challenges, with an optional regional challenge in between.

The US will host four regional final events to determine the four global finalists who will represent various parts of the country.

The global final will take place at Hacienda Patrón in March 2024.

Bartender Mor Koral soared to victory to claim first place in the Patrón Perfectionists 2023 cocktail competition.