Tequila

Tequila and its cousin Mezcal (both agave-based spirits from Mexico), continue to be a favourite amongst a small but growing number of Australians who have perhaps travelled to Mexico, love a Margarita, or enjoy a flavourful base spirit to a refreshing mixed drink. Australians are drinking better quality tequila more than ever with premium tequila outpacing the growth of standard tequila. This is fuelled by the appreciation of fine tequilas like Patrón in cocktails and neat serves.

Patrón Tequila is made from 100 per cent blue weber agave from the Los Altos region in Mexico. Once the agave is harvested, it undergoes a meticulous production process that takes up to 79 hours to complete.

“The results speak for themselves, says our drinks guru, Ben. “It’s a tequila with immense softness and depth of flavour, giving complex savoury and subtly sweet notes to the palate. “I get flavours of cooked agave and subtle vanilla sweetness, savoury notes of roasted peppers and a herbal dryness that combines well with a lot of ingredients, in particular, citrus juices,” mentions Ben. The Margarita has been a staple of classic cocktail menus since its creation in the 1930s. The Paloma is a more recent revival however, it’s the most popular tequila drink in Mexico and can be enjoyed as a simple tequila and grapefruit soda or as a fancy cocktail.”

PATRÓN MARGARITA

INGREDIENTS: 45ml Patrón Silver Tequila 15ml De Kuyper Triple Sec 30ml Fresh lime juice 10ml Sugar syrup

METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker and add a scoop of ice. Shake well and fine strain into a double old fashioned glass rimmed with sea salt

GARNISH: Sea salt of the rim of the glass

PATRÓN PALOMA

INGREDIENTS: 60ml Patrón Reposado Tequila 15ml Fresh lime juice 90ml Pink grapefruit soda 15ml Agave syrup

METHOD: Add ingredients to a highball glass rimmed with sea salt, add ice and gently stir

GARNISH: Slice of pink grapefruit

GLASSWARE: Highball

PATRÓN OLD FASHIONED

INGREDIENTS: 60ml Patrón Añejo Tequila 5ml Agave syrup 5ml Honey 1 x Dash orange bitters 1 x Dash aromatic bitters

METHOD: Add ingredients to a cocktail mixing glass and add a scoop of ice. Stir well and fine strain over a large cube of ice into an old fashioned glass

GARNISH: An orange peel twist

Patrón Old Fashioned