What are the most important ingredients to consider when you’re making a cocktail? It depends on the type of drink, of course, but some of the most important ones include bitters, fresh citrus, sweetener, and style of modifier, such as liqueur or vermouth. But perhaps the most important element of any drink is the most obvious — the base spirit. If the whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, or tequila you are using is lacking in quality or flavor, the entire operation crumbles and your drink will be average at best.
Per the guidelines established by the Tequila Regulatory Council in Mexico, using additives in tequila is legally allowed — producers can add things like glycerin, oak wood extract, caramel coloring, and sugar-based syrup, up to 1 percent of the spirit’s total volume, without having to disclose it.
PATRÓN is a tequila brand that does things differently, based on the belief that additive-free tequila actually tastes better. PATRÓN is made using just three ingredients — 100 percent Weber Blue agave, yeast, and water. The agave is harvested only when mature, and the aged expressions are matured in a variety of different barrel types to imbue the spirit with flavor. Overall, PATRÓN is made from simple, all-natural ingredients using a combination of modern and traditional production methods that ensure the character of the agave remains front and center in every sip.
Sipping an additive-free tequila like PATRÓN neat is the purest way of truly discovering the intricacies of this spirit that is so important to the culture of Mexico. But it’s just as important to consider how a tequila is produced when you are choosing one to use for cocktails, because the base spirit will dictate the flavor and guide the drinking experience. In any cocktail — whether it’s a simple classic (such as a Margarita, a Paloma, an Old Fashioned, or a Ranch Water) or a modern concoction with a multitude of ingredients — the base spirit should be highlighted and work harmoniously with the other ingredients . The true character of the tequila should shine through, and that’s why an additive-free option like PATRÓN is always the right choice.
According to New York City bartender Andrea Grujic, PATRÓN works well even in multi-layered cocktails. “Working in a tiki bar early in my career taught me that when you have a cocktail menu that’s ‘loud and busy,’ the base spirit has to hold its own — and that’s exactly what PATRÓN does,” she says. Grujic believes that the fact that PATRÓN is additive-free means the brand must rely solely on its production process to develop its flavors, rather than camouflaging its authentic flavor with additives. “This allows the genuine agave character to shine through,” she says, “offering a versatile foundation that I’ve found is key across every type of bar I’ve worked in.”
The PATRÓN lineup begins with the Silver expression, a crisp, unaged tequila bursting with notes of cooked agave, melon, and citrus. From there the lineup moves into three barrel-aged expressions — the Reposado spends at least four months in American oak ex-whiskey barrels to pick up flavors of honey, toasted oak, and vanilla; the Añejo rests for a year in three different types of barrels — American, French, and Hungarian oak — to soak up flavors like toffee and vanilla; and the Extra Añejo matures for three years in a combination of barrels resulting in a rich, decadent sipping tequila. The PATRÓN CRISTALINO rounds out the portfolio as an Añejo blend that was aged in three different types of barrels before filtration to remove its color while retaining the flavor it picked up during its time resting in oak.
Grujic says that PATRÓN Silver’s peppery notes make it the perfect choice for a classic Margarita, while a Paloma is suited for the more complex spice notes of the PATRÓN Reposado. And the rich and complex flavors picked up from a year inside barrels makes using PATRÓN Añejo a great way to reimagine a stirred cocktail like an Old Fashioned. “Each expression contributes a distinct nuance without overpowering the drink,” she says. “It allows for other components to complement rather than compete with the flavor.”
Whichever PATRÓN expression you choose, you can be sure that these 100 percent Weber Blue agave, additive-free tequilas will allow the spirit’s core agave character to shine. “Investing in a quality base spirit isn’t just a nice to have,” says Grujic. “It’s essential — it can easily make or break a cocktail.”
This article is sponsored by PATRÓN Tequila.
