Patrón Perfectionists has opened for 2023 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, the tequila brand has extended its commitment to 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.
While new layers have been added to accompany participants on their journey, 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,” says a press release.
The entry challenge, 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 September 1 to October 7, bartenders will be invited to attend Academia Patrón Perfectionists, made of three virtual sessions and workshops hosted by leading personalities from the drinks and restaurant industry, alongside other educational initiatives hosted locally. 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 October 7.
Following the education and entry stages, each participating country will judge the cocktail creations to shortlist up to 10 bartenders competing in the national finals due to take place throughout November and December. 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 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.
“We are incredibly excited for the upcoming 2023 Patrón Perfectionists program,” said Lauren Mote, Global Manager of Program Excellence for Patrón tequila. “Over the years, this program has brought an invaluable contribution to the category thanks to the advocacy of bartenders creating and sharing outstanding Patrón recipes around the globe. These are the bartenders that we are lucky enough to call our Patrón Familia and we cannot wait to welcome many more. The evolution of the Patrón Patrón competition brand to a bartending program, with dedicated education, goes hand in hand with the rise of the bar scene globally. It has become evident to all our teams that education should become the central pillar of our program, with investment into the growth and professional development of bartenders everywhere. 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.”
This year’s Patrón Perfectionists entries open on September 1st, 2022 and close on October 7th, 2022 and are to be submitted via the Academia Patron entry portal. National finalists will be announced by mid-October and receive guidance on the upcoming national final events from the local Brand Ambassadors.
