In autumnal Prague, just a few days before the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, an enchanting evening was crafted by Pavel Sochor and Tomáš Bělčík, who fused the world of Mexican elegance with Czech attention to detail. For one evening, the Alma bar and restaurant transformed into a temple of agave, where guests discovered the magic of the Patrón brand - one of the most renowned tequilas in the world - and were reminded that tequila can be not only a drink but also a celebration of life.
Cocktail: El Alto & Tonic
Ingredients:
30 ml Patrón El Alto Reposado
150 ml Three Cents Dry Tonic
1 slice of grapefruit
Method:
Fill a glass with quality ice.
Pour in Patrón El Alto and stir gently.
Top up with chilled tonic (pouring it down the side of the glass).
Lightly combine with a bar spoon and garnish with the grapefruit slice.
The result? A creamy-smooth, refreshing drink that deserves space – just like Patrón itself.
As we approached Día de los Muertos, Mexico's Day of the Dead, which celebrates life and memories with colors, flavors, and music, the evening at Alma reminded us that even a glass of tequila can be a celebration of craft, tradition, and the moment.
An Evening with the Soul of Jalisco
Pavel Sochor, who has been at the top of the Czech bar scene for the past few years, prepared four cocktails inspired by the soul of Patrón tequila—purity, complexity, and elegance.
Jalisco, the state in the west of Mexico and the cradle of tequila, is the place where every drop of Patrón is born. The volcanic soil, high altitude, and dry climate create ideal conditions for growing the blue Weber agave that gives tequila its unmistakable character.
It is this energy of Jalisco - the combination of craft, tradition, and passion for life - that carried over into the evening at Prague's Alma.
El Alto & Tonic combined the finesse of Patrón El Alto Reposado with the tonic of Three Cents. The result was a refreshing yet creamy smooth drink, perfect for slow sipping.
The 5 Barrels Lowball, in turn, mirrored the depth and layers of the El Alto - the combination of Martini Ambrato, Earl Grey, blackberry, and coriander had both refinement and a slight wildness to it.
El Cielo Paloma, built on El Cielo's finest tequila, brought citrusy freshness and notes of yarrow, while Cafe Pipon, with Patrón XO Cafe, sherry, and clarified butter, felt like a liquid dessert with a Mexican heart.
The atmosphere at Alma was exactly what an evening dedicated to Patrón deserves - subtle lighting, subdued music, perfect service. Every bottle, every cocktail, every detail told the story that craft is as important in tequila as it is in haute cuisine.
Tequila as Art
Patrón was founded in 1989 and has since built a status as a symbol of quality and authenticity. It is produced in Jalisco, Mexico, where the volcanic soil, altitude, and climate create ideal conditions for growing blue agave.
Each bottle is the result of handcrafted, traditional workmanship and precise aging. The brand honors its roots while using modern technology to maintain consistent quality and distinctiveness.
The Three Exceptional Faces of Patrón
Each Patrón tequila has its own distinctive character - just like the moments for which it was created. The evening at Alma featured a trio of editions that personify the three faces of the Mexican soul: depth, passion, and lightness of being.
Patrón XO Cafe brings a dark elegance and the aroma of roasted coffee beans. It is a fusion of ultra-premium Patrón Silver tequila and natural coffee essence that creates a spirit with surprising smoothness. This is not a sweet liqueur, but a balanced, dry, and complex drink for those who appreciate authenticity. XO Cafe is great on its own, but also as an ingredient in cocktails or a decadent addition to desserts - like chocolate mousse or sea salt ice cream.
Much deeper and more complex is Patrón El Alto, the brand's flagship and the epitome of Mexican precision. Aged in American and French oak barrels, this blend of Extra Añejo, Añejo, and Reposado tequilas is a fluid tale of time and patience. The agave is sourced from the highlands of Jalisco, giving the spirit a subtly sweet, full-bodied character. Aromas of caramel, honey, and figs give way to flavors of dried fruit, vanilla, and wood - perfect for slow sipping that demands calm and focus.
And finally, Patrón El Cielo, a tequila that seems to float between earth and sky. It's the world's first quadruple-distilled tequila - pure, light, bright, and fresh. Its flavor has notes of cooked agave, citrus, and subtle spices that leave an impression of perfect balance. El Cielo is a symbol of modern elegance: perfect for sipping on the rocks or just on its own, pure when you want to stop and let the finest tequila have to offer shine through.
Three tequilas, three moods, three stories. Together, they show that Patrón is not just a spirit, but a way to live the moment - with respect, with taste, and with a refinement that defies time.
Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life
In Mexico, it is not death that is celebrated on November 2, but the life that remains in our memories afterward. Altars, cempasúchil flowers, candles, music - and of course, the tequila that accompanies every significant moment.
The evening in Alma beautifully brought this philosophy to Prague. It showed that even in the middle of autumn, tequila can have the power to awaken joy, nostalgia, and the desire for another sip.
"Tequila is not about strength. It is about balance, craft, and emotions that remain long after the last sip," Pavel Sochor concluded.
And that is the magic of Patrón - that even a drop of the spirit can carry the soul of Mexico.
