There’s probably an international day for any food and drink by now, though not all of them are worth celebrating. One we can get behind is World Tequila Day on July 24. It’s a celebration of all things to do with the agave-based spirit. Made exclusively from blue Weber agave (or agave tequilana), tequila has been a fixture of Mexican culture for centuries and has been gaining more traction in Australia over the past few years.
These days, if you’re looking to dive into the world of tequila in Melbourne, there are plenty of options from dedicated tequila bars to specialty cocktail bars and Mexican-inspired eateries. Whether you’re a tequila expert or you’re new to the spirit, here are a few spots to celebrate World Tequila Day around the city this year.
Hecho en Mexico
Hecho en Mexico is best known for its birria and burritos, and despite having 20 locations in Melbourne, each one still feels like a small local diner. It’s also one of the pioneers for Mexican-inspired bottomless brunches, and in honour of World Tequila Day, the street-style Mexican restaurant is adding buy-one-get-one bottomless brunch to the menu.
We think you might like Access. For $12 a month, join our membership program to stay in the know.
SIGN UPFor just $37.50 per person (usually $75), you and a friend can tuck into a spread of endless tacos and Patrón cocktails, including classic Margaritas made with Patrón Silver and palomas made with Patrón Reposado, lined with Tajin salt. And all the fried chicken, fish, prawn, pork, beef, chorizo and vegetarian tacos you can eat for 1.5 hours. The offer is available every Saturday and Sunday from July 27 to August 18 across all Hecho en Mexico locations; book ahead online.
Pincho Disco
The world of tequila can be intimidating, with subtle differences between each variety. One of the best ways to wrap your head around the range is to sample them side by side. On August 1, you can do exactly that at Pincho Disco’s World Tequila Day dinner, Órale. The event is a chance to explore the full spectrum of agave spirits with a curated offering led by Patrón’s brand ambassador, Corina Retter. Start with a Margarita Verde on arrival before moving on to guided tastings of the Patrón Silver, Reposado, Anejo and prestige release Patrón El Cielo. Each drink will be paired with a dish by head chef Diego Cardenas. Orale takes place on August 1 at 6.30pm. Tickets cost $149 per head. Bookings are required..
Lily Blacks
Stalwart cocktail bar Lily Blacks may be Parisian-inspired, but its spirit range draws from all over the map. In honour of World Tequila Day, the team is serving a limited-edition menu of Patrón cocktails that pair the iconic Mexican tequila with classic European flavours.
For $25, try the Tango Rouge: a floral blend of Massenez Framboise, balsamic, pomegranate and Patrón Silver. Or for $35, go for a punchy number called Purple Plane made with Chartreuse, Creme De Violette and Patrón El Cielo. A step up from Patrón Silver, Patrón El Cielo is the world’s first quadruple-distilled tequila; the four-part distillation highlights the subtle sweetness of the agave. In true Lily Blacks style, both drinks are served over hand-cut ice and are available from July 24 to 31.
Soho Restaurant and Bar
If Margs overlooking the banks of the Yarra sounds like your kind of fun, head to Southbank to try Soho Restaurant and Bar’s specialty Margarita menu, launching right on World Tequila Day.
Using mixology techniques from around the world, bar manager Kudzi Tapera has developed a brown sugar and blood orange Margarita with Patrón Reposado, a tequila aged between 60 and 364 days, to create a smooth, oaky variety that pairs well with fresh, fruity flavours. The result is a vibrant cocktail full of colour, tang and sweetness that’ll only set you back $20. If you prefer to stick to tradition, Soho is also offering $20 classic Margaritas and verdant El Toro Margaritas muddled with green jalapeno for an extra kick, plus $24 Patrón El Cielo Signature Serves: straight up over ice with an orange slice. All Patrón specials are available from July 24 until the end of August.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Patrón.