The Top 10 Australian finalists have been announced in the 2021 Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition.

This year’s competition saw bartenders challenged to develop their creations from an ingredients list that was easily accessible for fans to recreate recipes at home, to accommodate changing social restrictions.

In a competition first, consumers were then invited to vote for their favourite creation among the Top 30 cocktails published online on Difford’s Guide. The three bartenders with the highest public votes made it through to the Top 10 , while the remaining seven were chosen by Patrón.

The 2021 Australian Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition Top 10 finalists are …

NSW

Harrison Kenney – Cantina Ok!

Sion Roberts – Dead Ringer (“Unity” pictured above)

Pauric Kennedy – Barangaroo House

VICTORIA

Aiden Rodriquez – Eau de Vie

Corina Retter – Capitano

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Grace Rawlins – Memphis Slims House of Blues

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Pravin Phuyal – Hot Tamale

Niccolo’ Maffezzoni – The Trader Bar

QUEENSLAND

Rebecca Bayley – Cielo Rooftop

Daniella Darakis – The Gresham (pictured main)

Lovers of PATRÓN can access the Top 10 recipes online via patronperfectionists.com and join in the celebrations at-home.

Watch the virtual national final

The Top 10 bartenders will now move forward to take part in a national final. Ongoing restrictions to social conditions due to COVID-19 will see the Australian final conducted in line with relevant health advice, and virtually broadcast globally on the September 27 via the Patrón Perfectionists Facebook page.

Bacardi-Martini Australia Brand Ambassador and 2017 Patrón Perfectionist finalist Joseph Chisholm said: “Creativity was at an all time high this year, the flavour of the cocktail and the story behind were big score factors. The 2021 Top 10 entries really highlight the calibre of bartending talent here in”.

Matt Sykes, Global Commercial Execution for PATRÓN and founder of the Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition added: “We’re thrilled to see such talent, passion and innovation. It’s been a tough year for the hospitality industry and this has been a great way for us to support and pioneer bartenders from across the globe. We’re incredibly excited to see how the finals unfolds and I’m sure it will be a tough competition.”

The winner of each national final will be invited to fly to Mexico in January 2022 for a chance to meet their fellow Perfectionists and compete in the global final at Hacienda PATRÓN.

Now in its sixth year, the competition has expanded to thirty countries globally and continues to attract an increasing number of skilled mixologists.