3 Unbelievably Good Reasons to Drink Patrón Tequila (Plus 3 Delicious Cocktail Recipes!)

Lil Mizz sunshine

If you want to feel good about cocktail hour, consider pouring out some Patrón Tequila, a brand deeply committed to preserving the environment, and as Greg Cohen, VP of Communications says, “It starts at the top.”

“Our founder John Paul DeJoria is deeply committed to preserving the environment, supporting environmental causes, and giving back to communities in which we do business,” explains Cohen. “This has been an important part of our business since day one.

Thanks to its efforts, Patrón Tequila has earned an ISO 1400 Certification, an internationally recognized environmental standard shared by Diplomatico Rum.

Here are just a few of the many reasons that you can feel good about drinking Patrón Tequila.

1. Patrón Tequila Uses Recycled Materials Whenever Possible

To reduce its carbon footprint, Patrón Tequila uses several recycled materials, such as shipping boxes made from recycled paper.

Use of these boxes has been reduced as well. Patrón Tequila has cut box use by 30 percent in order to reduce excess paper usage, by abandoning individual packaging for bottles being shipped directly to bars and restaurants.

2. Patrón Tequila Recycles Waste Byproducts of its Production

“Water is vitally important to the production of tequila, so much in fact that it was a key factor in choosing where to locate our distillery,” says Cohen, who notes that the naturally soft water well on-site is essential to the production of the tequila.

But it is just as important to dispose of wastewater correctly. Patrón has developed industry-leading reverse osmosis technology that recycles 70 percent of its stillage, or leftover distillate, into clean water. Remaining stillage is combined with the byproducts of the agave used to distill the tequila, and the resulting combination is used for compost in the distillery’s on-site vegetable garden.

The resulting clean water, meanwhile, is used in the Hacienda’s facility cooling towers and gardens.

Patrón has also implemented a system of garbage separation in their facilities, which makes recycling even easier.

3. Patrón Tequila is Involved in the Local Community

In addition to these environmental efforts, Patrón donates to various causes, including the Waterkeeper Alliance, an international association chaired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of clean water advocates committed to protecting communities, ecosystems and water quality.

“We’re also very actively involved in civic and charitable causes in the small town in Jalisco, Mexico where the Patrón distillery is located, including support for orphanages, homes for the elderly, and food banks,” explains Cohen.

Patrón Tequila also recently installed a natural gas pipeline, to reduce harmful air emissions from production.

For these three reasons — and many more — you can feel good about pouring a glass of Patrón. Here are just a few recipes to enjoy.

Lil Mizz Sunshine (Created by Rosie Ruiz, Cole’s (LA))

Serves 4-5

Ingredients

6 oz Roca Patrón Reposado
2 oz Patrón Citrónge Mango
3 oz Orange/Chamomile Tea-Infused Sweet Vermouth
3 oz Lime Juice
10 White Sugar Cubes
6 oz Club Soda

Directions

Muddle sugar cubes with lime juice, Stir all ingredients (except for club soda) with ice. Strain over 1 large block of ice. Add club soda, and garnish with orange wheels and edible flowers.

Orange Chamomile-Infused Sweet Vermouth
-5 tsp Orange Chamomile Tea Leaves
-750ml Dolin Sweet Vermouth

Infuse tea in vermouth for 2 hours. After 2 hours, strain out tea and refrigerate.

Rosa Picante Margarita

Rosa Picante Margarita (Created by Jordan Corney, Bohanan’s)

Serves 1

Ingredients

2 oz Patrón Silver
.5 oz Patrón Citrónge Lime
1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
.5 oz ginger syrup
Bar spoon jalapeño oil
Dash rosewater
Rose petal sea salt

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice to chill. Strain into a chilled cocktail coupe that has been half-rimmed with rose sea salt, and top with a dash of rose water. Garnish with a rose petal, if available.

El Camino

El Camino (Created by Carlos Ytuuria, Lure + Till)

Serves 1

Ingredients

1.5 oz Roca Reposado
1 oz peach and basil puree
1 oz Lemon juice
.5 oz agave nectar
Garnish: basil leaf

Directions

Shake all ingredients. Serve over ice. Garnish with basil leaf.

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Images care of MBooth

Emily Monaco

Emily Monaco is an American food and culture writer based in Paris. She loves uncovering the stories behind ingredients and exposing the face of our food system, so that consumers can make educated choices. Her work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, Vice Munchies, and Serious Eats.