Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest The prestigious Patrón Perfectionists cocktail competition has gained a community of Patrón lovers worldwide, continues to nurture a vast network of bartenders who have elevated tequila-based cocktails and shifted misconceptions around the agave spirit. Now in its eighth year, the competition has evolved to include a theme for the entry challenge and broadened the competition’s reach to 19 countries and cruise liners. In addition to that, Patrón has extended its long-standing commitment to inspire and support bartenders in growing their skillset with the launch of Academia Patrón Perfectionists Education Program. The entry challenge for Patrón Perfectionists 2022/23 is called Hometown Hero, a challenge that requires bartenders to develop a unique cocktail that blends Patrón Silver Tequila with their local culture, using ingredients from a prescribed list. After a rigorous selection process, the top ten contenders for the Philippines have been chosen. A mix of relative newcomers and established veterans made the cut for this year’s batch. Check out the inspiration behind their entries. Kentt Yap Cafe Cha Stir Me Wide Awake Kentt Yap and Stir Me Wide Awake: PATRÓN Silver Tequila, maple syrup, small batch Philippine Arabica bean-infused Bacardi Oro, garnished with abaca smoke Kentt partnered with second-generation Arabica bean farmers from Sagada, Mountain Province. The family-owned lot produces competition grade Arabica beans 1,450 meters above sea level. “The coffee-infused rum brings out the often overlooked earthy tones of PATRÓN Silver. Most tequila cocktails tend to favor citrus ingredients in an effort to bring out the citrus notes of the tequila. But with a high quality Arabica bean, we will be able to bring out earthy tones out of PATRÓN Silver. The maple syrup adds complexity and body to this cocktail. Visually, it will remind you of an eagle’s nest, because the Philippine national bird is the Philippine Eagle. Stir Me Wide Awake truly is a cocktail that will keep you wide awake.” Felix Vergara Flame (Discovery Primea) RAMAN Felix Vergara and RAMAN: PATRÓN Silver Tequila, falernum, homemade pineapple tepache, topped with soda water, garnished with dehydrated pineapple and batutay (beef sausage) Felix’s cocktail, RAMAN (the Ilocano word for flavor) is a tribute to his hometown of Nueva Ecija. He incorporates the beef sausage called batutay from his province into his creation. “RAMAN is made with homemade tepache (pineapple peels,red chili, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, muscovado, and water) that complements the distinctive sweet and savory flavors of the batutay. I added falernum to give a tropical taste to the drink. And lastly, the star of the cocktail Patron Tequila Silver that gives a clean and savory punch to my cocktail.” Ma. Kristina Tubig Southbank Cafe + Lounge Salo-Salo Ma. Kristina Tubig and Salo-Salo: PATRÓN Silver Tequila, sherry, saline solution, carabao and coconut milk liqueur, garnished with walnuts Kristina took inspiration from the Filipino custom of gathering around food during celebrations. She used tibok-tibok, a carabao milk pudding dessert from her hometown of Pampanga, as one of her ingredients for her cocktail. “I specially created this drink to make me remember what Filipino Salo-Salo made me feel. I chose tibok-tibok as my Hometown Hero because kakanin (Filipino desserts) are always present in Filipino celebrations and it is believed to make friends and families stronger and tighter together by its sticky texture.” Lance Tabilin Water & Wine Provisions Presias Lance Tabilin and Presias: PATRÓN Silver Tequila, pink grapefruit juice, sweet vermouth, soda water, strawberry-hibiscus gastrique, garnished with fruits and flower leather Hailing from Quezon City, Lance has access to a wide array of ingredients, including his favorite, strawberries. His cocktail entry is called Presias, derived from the word precious and the Filipino term for strawberry, presa. “I always considered strawberries as something precious. One of the most expensive items in the grocery; and the first time I tasted it was an experience in itself. Sweet, sour, floral. I loved it. You wouldn’t think of strawberries with PATRÓN, but it works perfectly. Combined with the other ingredients, Presias is a floral, sweet and sour drink with a touch of bitterness and bubbles. You don’t need to wait for a precious experience to happen, take the experience and make it precious.” Esse Magsino Polilya Constancia Esse Magsino and Constancia: PATRÓN Silver Tequila, cold brew coffee, rice syrup, egg white, chocolate bitters, local rice cracker garnish Esse’s cocktail combines the classic cocktail, espresso martini, with his hometown coffee, kapeng barako, from Batangas province and adds a rice cracker to make Constancia more uniquely Batangueño. “This cocktail brings back memories of my childhood in Batangas where people normally eat rice with coffee.” Jet Javier Cafe Claus Eastwood Capullo Jet Javier and Capullo: PATRÓN Silver Tequila, Fernet Branca, IPA, tepache, coconut meat and oil (latik), pineapple leaf garnish Hailing from Antipolo, Rizal, Jet’s cocktail is inspired by treats his family would buy after hearing mass on Sundays, suman (rice cake) and latik. Latik, which is made from coconut cream, has deep flavors of brown sugar and dessicated coconut. “Capullo, which means cocoon, represents change. I included latik, my Hometown Hero, in this cocktail because the flavors take me back to my childhood. Mixing it with PATRÓN Silver Tequila and other ingredients to create a delightfully complex cocktail is my move towards the future.” Jaz Jan Juan The Spirits Library Monumento Jaz Jan Juan and Monumento: PATRÓN Silver Tequila, orange bitters, clear guava cordial, guava leaf garnish Jaz’s Monumento cocktail is a tribute to one of the Philippines’ greatest heroes, Andres Bonifacio, whose monument is located in his hometown of Caloocan City. “In honor of our beloved hero, I made an elevated Tommy’s Margarita with a different approach. The pillar that stands at the center of my Monumento cocktail is PATRÓN Silver Tequila. Bayabas (guava), which grows abundantly in my hometown, supports its peppery, fruity notes, while the other ingredients round out the flavors and structure of the whole drink.” Clayton Paul Munar Alibi Lounge • Bar El Hogar Es Donde Esta El Corazon Clayton Paul Munar and El Hogar Es Donde Esta El Corazon: PATRÓN Silver Tequila, Martini Bianco, vine tomatoes, strawberry leather El Hogar Es Donde Esta El Corazon, which means ‘home is where the heart is’ in English, is Clayton’s homage to his hometown in northern Luzon known for strawberries. “I love pairing flavors that may seem to not be meant for each other. I infused strawberries in sweet vermouth to give a bright sweetness to the crisp flavors of the vermouth and paired it with housemade salsa verde for freshness and clean mouthfeel that highlights the vegetal flavors of PATRÓN Silver.” Aliuss Bernard Abrazado Unspoken Bar Vamos Aliuss Bernard Abrazado and Vamos: PATRÓN Silver Tequila, soda water, crème de banane, turon (banana lumpia) cordial, banana garnish Aliuss dedicates his cocktail, Vamos, to all hardworking individuals who work tirelessly day and night to provide food for their table. “Vamos is inspired by our local afternoon snack, turon, which is made of saba banana dipped in sugar, wrapped in lumpia wrapper and deep fried. This cocktail draws PATRÓN Silver Tequila into the deep sweetness of banana which balances its herby notes.” Cherrie Ann Alegre A'Toda Madre Agila Cherrie Ann Alegre and Agila: PATRÓN Silver Tequila, cocoa powder, palm sugar, orange, dark chocolate and cacao nibs Cherrie hails from the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and home of Philippine eagle, Davao City. She makes good use of chocolate in her cocktail inspired by our national bird. “These cocoa nibs are from Malagos garden which is located near the Philippine Eagle Foundation. The Philippine eagle holds a special place in my heart because I was able to volunteer to help save them. My Agila cocktail is bold yet elegant, using the best quality ingredients, to create a drink that’s a work of art.” Who will be the next PATRÓN Perfectionists Philippine champion? Find on November 23, 2022 at The Peak at The Grand Hyatt Hotel. The winner will be representing the country at the global finals to be held at Hacienda Patrón, Mexico, in March 2023. Follow Academia PATRÓN on Facebook and Instagram for updates and information about the competition. Check out https://www.academiapatron.com to learn more about PATRÓN Tequila.