The owner of Paul Mitchell systems, John Paul DeJoria is co-owner of the award winning Patrón tequila. They offer nine different types of tequila to fill your shot glasses with now. The shampoo man in 1989 founded this company with Martin Crowley.
Taking Waeber blue agave from the hills of Jalisco, Mexico to produce what is claimed as the world's best sipping tequila.
"Under the stewardship of DeJoria and former Seagram executive Ed Brown, a new distilling factory was built in Jalisco. With the guidance of the renown master distiller Francisco Alcarez, the new factory was designed to be state-of-the-art with a core steeped in tradition."(Patrón Spirits)
The Waeber blue agave grown in Jalisco region produce higher "honey" or sugar content and can take up to nine years to mature properly. The bitter sprouts are removed before the agave is steam baked for 36 hours. They're steamed for a long time at low temp. to prevent caramelization that leaves the inside of the fruit under cooked, bitter, and starchy. The cooked agave is then macerated by large stone milling wheels so the juice can be abosrbed by the mescal fibers. The fiber-juice is then placed in wooden fermentation vats, allowed to adjust naturally, then yeast is added to encourge the fermention process. The fermentation lasts for 60 to 72 hours. Afterwards it's distilled twice in copper pot sills, and then balanced to 80 proof/40% Alc. by volume, fine filtered, and bottled in a unique, numbered creation.
The nine fine Patrón tequila labels are; Gran Patrón, Patrón Ańejo, Patrón Reposado, Patrón Silver, Patrón XO Café, Patrón Citrónge, Pyrat Cask, Pyrat XO Reserve, Pyrat Superior Blanco.
"If you like high-end spirits, you'll want to try the Gran Patron Burdeos, an "ultra premium" anejo (aged) tequila that is triple distilled and then placed in barrels that were formerly home to Bordeaux wines, adding a hint of vanilla-berry softness and a Cognac flavor to the spirit. Sadly, the limited edition bottles are currently only available through restaurants, though they say the bottles may hit retail outlets for around $499 in the future."(Kat Valentine)
The Company's headquarters is in Las Vegas, Nevada, and spends too much on advertisement. These two things cause a high over head that is passed on to the consumer. Yet, according Patrón Spirits they're still, "outselling it's nearest competitor by eight times in the United States alone."
Brands for less in price, but still as good; Cabo Wabo, Dos Lunas, Don Julio, and Corzo.
Kat Valentine, http://www.5280.com/blog/?p=2660, September 13, 2007.
http://www.patronspirits.com/en/functional/company/mission/
http://www.queenannewine.com/patteqmex.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080125053325AAE7MFG
Accessed 6/26/08