UK bartender wins Patrón competition

Mike McGinty, general manager of The Voyage of Buck bar in Edinburgh, has won Patrón Tequila’s ‘Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition’.

McGinty (pictured) won out from a total of 600 bartenders who entered the competition from around the world.

After winning the UK leg of the contest he took part in the grand final in Mexico at Hacienda Patrón in Jalisco earlier this week. There he was joined by fellow finalists from France, Spain, Mexico, Dubai, Australia and Italy.

McGinty’s winning cocktail – ‘Bell of Jalisco’ – was a combination of Patrón’s reposado Tequila, chamomile infused dry vermouth, grapefruit IPA, lemon juice and yellow bell pepper shrub.

McGinty said: “I’m beyond thrilled, what a wonderful way to kick off the year. I got my inspiration for my cocktail from understanding the time and effort that goes into the creation of every single drop of Patrón; I really wanted to create a serve dedicated to the men and women that are involved in the creation of this ultra-premium Tequila. The name of my cocktail, The Bell of Jalisco, is a reference to the bell peppers that have been used and the belief that Patrón is the ‘belle’ of Jalisco.”

Lee Applbaum, chief marketing officer, Patrón Spirits International said: “The pursuit of perfection is a concept which resonates throughout the bartending community and is core to the Patrón brand. It’s been great to see how this talented group of artisans have interpreted the Patrón Perfectionists ethos to produce such amazing cocktails.

“These cocktails have proven commercially successful in each of the finalists’ respective bars and the array of flavour profiles showcased demonstrate the true versatility of Patrón. The growth of the Patrón Perfectionists Competition internationally is a real testament to the global stature of the brand.”