Mike McGinty, Manager at Edinburgh’s newest West End cocktail bar The Voyage of Buck, has been named 2016’s UK Patrón Perfectionist champion at the tequila brand’s national competition.
The competition, which took place in London on Wednesday, challenged six of the UK’s leading bartenders to create the “perfect” Patrón cocktail which would convey craftsmanship, attention to detail and a commitment to absolute perfection, the hallmarks of the tequila brand.
Mike won the Scotland heat back in September with his creation The Bell of Jalisco, a blend of Patrón Reposado, chamomile infused vermouth and a yellow bell pepper shrub, and travelled down to London for the UK final on Wednesday. He faced five of the UK’s top bartenders, from award winning bars including Mr Fogg’s Residence and Park Chinois in London.
The competition, which launched last year, has expanded to an international affair this year, and Mike will travel to Mexico in January for the grand final. He will be representing The Voyage of Buck and independent bar group Big Red Teapot against a selection of world class bartenders from Mexico, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Spain and Italy.