Patrón Perfectionist Cocktail Competition winner and Hot Tamale bartender Anneliese Grazoli begins the long trek tonight from Darwin to Mexico to compete in the 2020 Global Finals.
"I'm so excited to experience Patrón's hospitality," she said. "I've already been blown away by the small taste of it that I've had - I can't wait to spend five or six days at Hacienda Patrón."
Following a fierce competition in Australia, the Hot Tamale bartender will travel to Jalisco, Mexico to take part in the finals next week.
The event is one of the biggest and most prestigious global bartending competitions.
Grazoli was the stand-out competitor in the Australia & New Zealand final. Her unique cocktail creation, tequila knowledge and demonstration crowned her the victor, against more than 230 submissions.
She will compete against bartenders from 21 countries at the semi-finals on Wednesday, January 22, with the top six bartenders battling it out at the grand final on Thursday, January 23 for their shot to be crowned the 2019 Patrón Perfectionist.
Grazoli isn't nervous about competing against the world's best, saying she finds it a rush to display her mixology skills to an audience.
Her innovative cocktail, ‘Over & Above’, contains Patrón Añejo, mango skin vermouth, Patrón Citrónge, mango, martini bitter, lemon myrtle and olive oil.
Grazoli admits the wildcard in the cocktail is the house-infused vermouth, which she has been preparing for the past six weeks.
"That's the one ingredient that's out of my control, as it's different every time I use it," she said. "This current batch is subtle, but in a complex way. I can't wait for the judges to try it."
And she would love to bring the big trophy home to Darwin, where Hot Tamale has established a reputation as a tequila mecca.
"The town has been so supportive of me," she said. "So many people have helped me prepare for the competition and tasted my cocktail. It's been amazing."
Good luck Anneliese!
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