WINE + SPIRITS
PATRON en LALIQUE
| BY KEVIN PILLEY
P
atron taught me the meaning of a dehydrated lime wheel and the importance of a ginger coin.
It taught me how to shave a grapefruit and when to and when not to muddle. It taught me what the art of the most artistic mint sprig looked like and how to deliver the perfect twist. But, above all, Patron Tequila— more than any other tequila—has taught me the definition of ultrapremiumization. It means you are holding the best, looking at the
best, and swallowing the best. I have been a Patron loyalist for years. My partisanship is unquestionable and unswerving. I have not been seduced by George Clooney, I have not been bowled over by The Rock, and I have never believed Michael Jordan is the real deal. I am a Patron person. I am on the “Good Boss” fanbase. I went very quiet and became tearfully emotional when I heard the rumor that Patrón Café XO might be discontinued.
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I sulked for weeks when I couldn’t get hold of a pair of limited edition, ultra-edgy Patron x John Geiger sneakers. My life has been a long, happy series of Tequila Espresso Martinis, Mile High Margaritas, Bull Riders (with Red Bull), highballs, coupes, and Collins glasses. Like many others worldwide, a day now rarely goes by without building myself a Highlands of Jalisco Old-Fashioned, a Lowland El Valle Paloma, or an extra añejo
Patron and Tonic. And raising my favored glass and garnish to celebrate all the lessons learned. Now “El Alto” has come into our lives to raise us further up into vegetal Heaven. And further our toasts to all the jimadors, tahona millers, macerators, fermenters, distillers, and bottlers of the familia Patron. A new Patron has a strange effect on agave worshippers. My skin
