This article is part of a series, highlighting the importance of additive-free and authentic tequila, partnered by PATRÓN. Discover more at The World of PATRÓN.
Nestled in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, the land of tequila is marked by the stunning blue tint of agave fields stretching across the landscape. Though agave is used to make several different types of spirits, only the blue agave plant can be used to produce tequila.
However, it’s not a process that can be rushed; crafting truly authentic tequila takes time. Many producers try to cut corners by using additives to prematurely enhance the flavor, taste, or color of their tequilas. Premium tequila producers like PATRÓN know that the most authentic tequilas require patience and zero additives.
The artisanal process of creating PATRÓN Silver starts in the agave fields and continues through the distillation process all the way to the bottle. Only 100 percent pure Weber Blue agave, the most premium type of blue agave, is used to produce PATRÓN Silver. After the plants are hand-harvested at the height of their sugar content, the Weber Blue agave is hand-chopped. From there, each is roasted for 72 hours in small brick ovens before being crushed, juiced, fermented, and then distilled in small batches. As the youngest expression of the spirit, PATRÓN Silver is not aged, and instead ready for bottling and hand-packaging directly after the distillation process.
The result is a pure expression of the Weber Blue agave plant, embodied in a crystal-clear, sweet, smooth tequila with impressive versatility and a peppery finish. In other words, it’s the perfect spirit for mixing up fun warm-weather cocktails and pairing them with the freshest, purest summertime foods.
Here are seven different dishes to pair with your pure summertime cocktails using authentic, 100 percent additive-free PATRÓN Silver tequila.
Bloody Maria With a Chilled Seafood Tower
A Bloody Maria is tequila’s take on the classic Bloody Mary — and its peppery, spicy, tomato-and-lemon goodness is a natural complement to a delicious chilled seafood platter. Build this delicious dish out by arranging cold cooked shrimp, crab claws, caviar, raw oysters, lobster, and clams over a bed of ice, and finish it off with plenty of fresh lemon wedges. To keep this cocktail light tasting and fresh for summer sipping, incorporate fresh juices, cracked pepper, and fresh-grated horseradish into the mix. Add crisp and crunchy vegetables like celery, carrot slices, or slivered bell peppers as your essential accoutrements.
Spicy Margarita With Fresh Guacamole
Could there be a pairing more divine than this Spicy Margarita created by Jackson Hole bartender Blake Thompson and a bowl of homemade guacamole? We think not. While Spicy Margaritas have become increasingly popular, this version shines because it incorporates the natural sugars of fruits instead of relying on orange liqueur or syrups for sweetness. Always make your guacamole fresh with ripe Roma tomatoes, chopped garlic, hand-squeezed lime juice, fresh cilantro, diced red onion, and perfectly ripe avocados. Add a dash of cayenne pepper and pinch of salt, and serve with corn tortilla chips — or go extra fresh and scoop it up with fresh-cut veggies. The lime and salt from the Margarita will help enhance your bowl of green gold while the jalapeno-infused PATRÓN Silver will add a lingering touch of heat and pepper on the back.
Herb Gardener With Grilled Lamb Chops
Summertime is practically synonymous with grilling, and the Herb Gardener is the perfect citrus and herb-driven cocktail to complement those juicy lamb chops. Fresh rosemary and mint, along with the peppery citrus notes of the PATRÓN Silver, will effortlessly play off the flavor of the lamb and keep the dish feeling light. Of course, you can also customize your cocktail with the best herbs blooming in your garden (or window box) and watch the muddled flavors mix seamlessly with the bright lime juice and PATRÓN Silver. This cocktail also pairs exceptionally well with early summer asparagus. Just toss a few spears on the grill and serve alongside the lamb.
Rosé All Day With Crudité
Whip up a batch of this light and fruity sparkling cocktail and serve it with a collection of crunchy crudité. Julienne carrots, slice up bell peppers, cut some cucumbers, and drop down a handful of cherry tomatoes; then present it all with a pitcher of Rosé All Day. Inside the glass, the acidity of the rosé coupled with PATRÓN Silver’s citrus notes helps balance the sweetness of the fresh berries, orange liqueur, and elderflower, while the cocktail as a whole provides a perfect complement to the platter of fresh crudité.
Peppered Paloma With Oysters on the Half Shell
Pairing cocktails with oysters can be a challenging task. However, the Peppered Paloma, created by Canadian bartender Makina Labrecque, will frankly prime — not overpower — the flavor of raw oysters. When pairing with creamy West Coast oysters, the cocktail’s spicy, peppery notes delicately cut through the creaminess of the oyster, while the acidity of fresh grapefruit juice, lime juice, and vinegar help counterbalance an East Coast oyster’s salinity.
It’s Summer With Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon/Summer Salad
Looking for an easy go-to pairing to celebrate summer? Slice up a sweet, ripe cantaloupe, wrap it with some salty prosciutto, and shake up a few highballs of the It’s Summer cocktail. Created by Mexico City’s José Luis León, the brightness of the Prosecco and PATRÓN play off the fresh lemon juice’s acidity to balance the saltiness of the ham and sweetness from the melon and fresh berries. This pairing was made for slow sipping and porch snacking on a hot day, or as a starter course for a summer brunch with friends.
Ochos Pesos With Ceviche
Make things even brighter on a sunny summer day by pairing up a light, bright bowl of fresh ceviche with the sweet and sour Ochos Pesos cocktail created by Portland, Ore., bartender Mindy Kucan. Although both the cocktail and ceviche contain fresh lemon and lime juice, the cocktail’s passion fruit syrup smooths into PATRÓN Silver’s subtle, dark sugar undertones to soften the drink and keep it from reaching an over-the-top sour. Instead, you’ll find a wonderful pairing built for a perfect outdoor meal.
