[:en]Following a major meeting that saw emerging bartenders from all over Italy compete in the first Rome Bar Show September 23, Chiara Mascellaro, bar manager of the Camus in Palermo, she was crowned Italian finalist of the Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition 2019. With his cocktail Happy Door, Chiara will participate together with 21 other bartenders from 30 countries around the world in the global final to be held at Hacienda Patrón in Mexico in January 2020.
Talented and creative bartenders across the country worked hard to answer Patrón Tequila’s brief to create a cocktail that reflects the care, dedication and passion for their land that goes into every single bottle of Patrón. A cocktail worthy of a perfectionist, indeed. Following regional finals, six bartenders were selected to compete in the coveted national final and perform for the opportunity to compete in the world final.
Chiara and the other five finalists – Chiara Demenichini, Casa Mia Cocktail Bar; Bianca Andrea Ionita, Race Club Roma; Luca Melinato, Cloakroom Cocktail Lab; Edoardo Sandri, Atrium Bar Four Seasons Firenze; Nuno Lopes, The Lounge Bar Westin Palace Milano – created their drinks in front of a jury composed of:
Mariana Sanchez – Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, and a great expert in tequila and Patrón, today she holds the role of Patrón International Brand Education Manager
Antonio Rosato – Winner of the national final of Patrón Perfectionists 2018 and Senior Bartender at the prestigious Madarin Oriental Bar in Milan
Laura Carello – Passionate and expert in mixed drinks and Director of the mixology magazine MT Magazine
Chiara won over the jury thanks to her ability to express the true attitude of the Perfectionists: passion, research into details and ingredients, creativity, style in presenting a drink that tells a story.The emotion that winning the national final of Patrón Perfectionists gave me – says Chiara Mascarpone – It's really hard to explain. I still can't believe it! I was rewarded for creating a drink of my own that truly represents me, with my favorite tequila enhanced by the flavors of my homeland and my childhood. I'm really happy. This experience so far has been a journey full of lessons and beautiful encounters, thanks to the companions of our large community of bartenders in Italy with whom I have shared it. It will be an honor and a unique emotion for me to know the Hacienda Patrón, to live it and to enhance its fine tequila. Patrón deserves it and my land deserves it!”
As the tequila category continues to grow internationally, tequila cocktail culture continues to evolve, pushing the boundaries of the shot and showcasing the spirit’s mixability in innovative cocktails beyond the popular Margarita. The Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition has been a key platform in sparking the tequila renaissance with an increasingly close-knit community of bartenders eager to experiment and create with Patrón, whose versatility allows it to be used in countless cocktail styles. The competition, now in its fifth year, has grown from the UK to 30 countries around the world, attracting an ever-increasing number of bartenders looking to take on this creative, but also learning, challenge.
CHIARA MASCELLARO'S COCKTAIL: “HAPPY DOOR”
INGREDIENTS
40 ml Patrón Silver
30 ml Aquafaba
20ml Lime juice
20ml Sicilian laurel liqueur “Allorino”
10 ml Homemade bay leaf syrup
Basil leaves
PREPARATION
Pour all ingredients into a shaker and double strain the drink into a low rocks glass. Garnish with two bay leaves placed on the rim of the glass.
INSPIRATION
Chiara says: "My drink is inspired by my city, Palermo, which has always been the gateway for those arriving from the sea, and was once immersed in the greenery of laurel plants. In fact, the main aromas of Happy Door they are precisely those of laurel, with an extra touch given by the presence of salt that recalls the sea. The structure of the drink is given by Patrón Silver that marries perfectly with the basil.”[:]