Partner content: Sabrina Traubner to represent SA at PATRÓN Global Perfectionist competition in Mexico

In October 2022, the international PATRÓN Perfectionists cocktail competition opened for 2023, giving mixologists a chance to showcase their skills on a global scale and, after a series of challenges, an SA champion was selected.

Sabrina Traubner, head instructor at the European Bartender School in Cape Town, not only wowed the judging panel with her ‘Start of Day and Night’ cocktail, but also received the acclaimed PATRÓN Nod of Perfection approval, scoring the noble title of South Africa’s ultimate cocktail PATRÓN Perfectionist.

In the pursuit to be named as 2023’s Global PATRÓN Perfectionist, Sabrina will battle it out against 18 other mixologists from all over the globe and one wild card winner. The final leg of the competition will take place in March 2023 at the PATRÓN Tequila Hacienda in Mexico.

“It still has not sunk in,” says Sabrina. “I’m equally excited and nervous to be representing South Africa at the global finals next year. But now that I have travelled this journey, I’d like to advise anyone who would like to enter this competition next year to be sure that they tick all the requirement boxes, and most importantly that they are prepared and ‘perfectly’ themselves.”

This year’s national finals featured a series of challenges testing not only the broader skillset of participants, but also fostering a holistic bartending programme.

This reflects the growth of the existing competition and highlights PATRÓN tequila’s long-standing commitment to inspire and nurture the on-trade community.

About the judging panel

The evening’s industry experts tasked with judging the top six included Zuka Khuntsria (head bartender at Roka), Casandra Eichhoff (director of the Cape Town European Bartender School) and Leah van Deventer (spirits and cocktail writer).

The challenges, named In-Bloom and Paloma 2.0, required the competing mixologists to showcase their mastery by creating their versions of the PATRÓN margarita and the PATRÓN paloma. Cameron Hawkins, Sub-Saharan Africa Brand Ambassador for Bacardi in South Africa, said: “The calibre of creativity, knowledge of the brand and the liquid across the challenges was truly impressive. Congratulations to all the participants on their presentations. We are excited by the contribution these talented bartenders bring to the category. Sabrina’s performance was outstanding and stood out for authenticity, creativity, storytelling and perfection of execution. We cannot wait to take her to Mexico in March for an immersive lifetime experience at Hacienda PATRÓN.”

Sabrina’s noteworthy opponents and the cocktails they served

• Jason Thomas of The Mexican Bay in Jeffrey’s Bay with his cocktails, ‘Grand Daddy Fat’ and ‘Reminiscence’.

• Charne van Heerden of The House of Machines in Cape Town with her cocktails, ‘Serenity’ and ‘Beauty is in Simplicity’.

• Sash Hale of City Lodge in Chartwell with his cocktails, ‘The Letter’ and ‘Dancing with Dandelions’.

• Brent Davids of Marble in Johannesburg with his cocktails, ‘Sundance’ and ‘Hiatus’.

• Richie Nahkala of Alchemy in Ballito with his cocktails, ‘In-Bloom for Richie’ and ‘Swingsets & Stilettos’.

Top six Finalists