Meet your Makers

Every drink has a story in our search for The 2018 Margarita of the Year. Now that you’ve mingled with all of the recipes, picked your favorite and cast some hopeful votes, it’s time to take a break and settle in for story time with the bartenders that brought the drinks to life. From childhood homes to new adventures, the experiences that made these recipes come to life are sure to make your happy hour just a little happier.

Salted Plum Margarita’s Masako Morita

Years spent living in Mexico (and learning to love tequila) gave Masako Morita the inspiration to craft The Salted Plum Margarita, bringing together two countries and cultures in one glass.

Fun fact: Masako is fluent in Japanese, English and Spanish.

Skyline Margarita’s Megan Radke

An absolute passion for Seattle and a love for her childhood spent there, picking blackberries by the water and getting caught in the rain, made the flavor choice for Megan Radke’s Seattle-inspired Skyline Margarita an easy one.

Fun fact: Megan spent years as a hairdresser before becoming a bartender.

Passion Fruit Margarita’s Aaron Joseph

The unique flavors of Hawaii that infused his childhood bring brightness to Aaron Joseph’s Passion Fruit Margarita. Jalapeño spice was added to the margarita party to balance out the passion fruit sweetness, just like living in the city, in Baltimore, has balanced out his years of island time.

Fun fact: In his spare time, Aaron likes to coach little league football.

Verde Margarita’s
José Luis León

Living in Mexico, amongst an incredibly rich culture, inspired José Luis León’s flavor-rich and frosty Verde Margarita. He takes everything his home has to offer–art, history, cuisine, color –and brings it with him behind the bar.

Fun fact: José Luis represented Patrón at London Cocktail Week in 2016.

North End Margarita’s Stephen King

When Stephen King moved to Boston, he immediately fell in love with discovering the hidden gems of the city and embracing the simple approach to flavor found throughout the historically Italian North End neighborhood. His time spent making a home here inspired The North End Margarita’s innovative profile.

Fun fact: Stephen does not write horror novels.

Mediterranean Margarita’s Yanaida Prado

Yanaida Prado describes her home as bright, warm and beautiful, a perfect fit for Barcelona’s personality and color-infused way of life. She took the warming, sea side flavors from Spain, added a dash of her sunny disposition that touches every cocktail she crafts and created The Mediterranean Margarita.

Fun fact: Yanaida had quite a showing in the 2016 Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition.

La Margarita’s
Jorge Ortega

Growing up with Mexico’s culture and fresh flavors, then becoming entrenched in the arts, sights and sounds of the Los Angeles streets were the melting pot of experiences that inspired Jorge Ortega’s signature La Margarita.

Fun fact: Jorge has made drinks for quite a few celebrities at his Hollywood bar.