Tequila is a staple for warm-weather cocktails, but that doesn’t mean you need to put this spirit away just because the weather is starting to cool down. Patrón is a very versatile liquor that is made from the finest 100% Weber Blue Agave and is distilled in small batches at Hacienda Patrón distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. Tequila isn’t just for shots; it can be mixed into classics like Mojitos, Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and Mules.

The Origin of Patrón

John Paul DeJoria and Martin Crowley founded Patrón in 1989. They started the production in Jalisco, Mexico, and later moved into a different distillery in 2002. The name, Patrón, means a charitable or financially supporting person, but the meaning John and Martin preferred for their brand name was “big boss”. The bee symbol on the bottles represents the strong attraction bees have to the blue agave plant.

How is it made?

By law, tequila must be made from Blue Weber agave in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, and Guanajuato. Since the production process is strictly regulated, tequila can only be labeled and sold by that name if blue agave constitutes over half of the fermented sugars in the drink.

When the agave has ripened they are hand-chopped and the piña, the heart of the plant, is baked in brick ovens. This cooking process softens the piña, making the process of sugar extraction easier. The piñas are then transported to the milling area where they are crushed by a volcanic stone Tahona wheel and a roller mill. This mixture is then fermented for three days, distilled and sometimes aged in handmade barrels. The longer the tequila ages, the more color, and tannins the final product will have.

What are the different types?

There are different classes of tequila but there are only two varieties: 100 percent agave and mixto. Mixto is roughly 51 percent agave, and the rest is made up of water and different sugars during distillation. The general five classes of tequila are Blanco (slightly aged silver or white tequila), Oro (aged for a few months in oak barrels and is gold in color), Reposado (aged at least two months, but no more than a year in white oak barrels), Añejo (aged for a year, but no more than three) and Extra Añejo (aged for three years).

Patrón is great on its own, but with such a wide variety it’s the perfect tequila for almost any mixed cocktail. These flavorful drinks are guaranteed to expand your agave horizons.

1. Vampiros Cocktail
   • 1 ½ oz. Patrón Reposado
   • 3 oz. Sangrita
   • 1 ½ oz. Citrus-flavored soda
   • ½ Lime, juiced
   • 1 pinch Mexican-style chili powder with lime (such as Tajin fruit seasoning)
     • Fill a highball glass with ice; pour tequila, sangrita, citrus soda, lime juice, and chili powder. Stir to mix well.

2. Blackberry Sage Paloma
   • 2 oz. Patrón Silver
   • grapefruit juice
   • 4 blackberries
   • 6 sage leaves
   • 2 cane sugar cubes
     • In a large cocktail shaker, muddle blackberries, sage and sugar cubes. Add tequila, grapefruit juice, and crushed ice. Shake well pour into a cocktail glass garnish with sage.

3. Smoky Harvest Margarita
   • 1 ½ – 2 oz. Patrón Añejo
   • 4 oz. Apple cider
   • 1 oz. Lime juice
   • 1-2 tsp. Agave nectar
   • Cinnamon powder, Sugar, and Kosher salt for the rim
   • Cinnamon sticks and Apple slices for garnish
     • In a bowl mix equal parts cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and coat in the sugar mix. Combine tequila, apple cider, lime juice and agave in a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake until combined and strain into glass. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.

4. Reposado Old Fashioned
   • 3 oz. Patrón Reposado
   • 1 tsp. Agave nectar
   • 2 slices Blood orange
   • 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
     • Muddle agave and orange slices in a cocktail shaker then add tequila and ice. Stir and strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Add bitters and garnish with orange peel

5. Añejo Manhattan
   • 2 oz. Patrón Añejo
   • 1 oz. Carpano Antica Formula sweet vermouth
   • 2 dashes Mole bitters
     • Combine everything in a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into an old-fashioned glass over a large whiskey cube. Garnish with an orange twist.