Storm Evans from Cantina OK! in Sydney has been announced as the winner of the 2023 PATRÓN Perfectionists Australian Cocktail Competition.

He was among 10 finalists who competed in two challenges over two days in Sydney, culminating in a celebration and winner’s announcement party at award-winning bar El Primo Sanchez.

The 10 Australian Perfectionists finalists were:

• Benjamin Thomson from The Rechabite in Perth
• Finn Sugrue from Nectar in Geelong
• Jarah Retana from El Primo Sanchez in Sydney
• Kayla Saito from the The Mulberry Group (Hazel, Dessous, La Cantina, Common Ground Project,
• Liminal) in Melbourne
• Leah Dunnigan from Bar Planet in Sydney
• Martin McConnell from Frog’s Hollow Saloon in Brisbane
• Nick Corletto from Maybe Mae in Adelaide
• Samuel Cocks from RE Bar in Sydney
• Storm Evans from Cantina OK! in Sydney
• Tom Opie from The Waratah in Sydney

The room erupted in thunderous cheers when Evans was announced as the winner.

The entry challenge for this year’s competition, Paint the World PATRÓN Paloma, asked bartenders to create a PATRÓN Paloma, worthy of their favourite global city, featuring PATRÓN Reposado, soda water, a creative cordial and grapefruit in some form.

Evans created Palomè, which was inspired by the city of Heroica Veracruz, the citrus port of Mexico. It featured PATRÓN Reposado, Salmiana spiked grapefruit cordial and soda, garnished with a jellied ruby grapefruit wedge and whole mandarin sherbet.

For the final judging the competitors put a group serve twist on their entry challenge cocktail. Taking the PATRÓN Paloma they previously created as a canvas, the finalists were asked to create a serve ritual for two people that celebrates the essence of the Paloma in a shared serve.

A second final round was the Margaria De Mexico, which resulted in spectacular cocktails being presented to our esteemed judges – Alex Boon, Millie Tang, Sam Bygrave and Loy Catada. Taking a classic PATRÓN Margarita as their base, the bartenders were asked to celebrate Mexico by integrating a Mexican ingredient, creating a new iteration of this much-loved
cocktail.

Storm presented his cocktail, Prima, showcasing Jicama Respados.

PATRÓN Tequila senior commercial execution manager Andrew Woods said “What an amazing two days and national final, congratulations to all of our top 10 but as always there can only be one winner! Storm’s presentation skills, enthusiasm and overall drink concept for both challenges is what got him over the line in what was a very tight final. I can’t wait for Storm to experience a trip of a lifetime to Mexico for the Global finals in 2024 and hopefully deliver a win for Australia!”

Evans had his name carved into the Perfectionists Australian champions trophy, received $5000 and a trip of a lifetime to Hacienda PATRÓN in 2024 for an experience-filled week with their fellow global finalists, a surprise panel of global mentors, judges, and the Familia PATRÓN in Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, Mexico.

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