Patrón Tequila FAQS
Tequila
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Patrón Tequila is handcrafted in Jalisco, Mexico at Hacienda Patrón.
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Blanco tequila, also referred to as silver tequila, is a spirit that can be bottled right after distillation, or can be aged in steel tanks for up to four weeks.
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To qualify as tequila, the spirit must be made in Jalisco, Mexico and in very limited surrounding areas. To determine if the tequila is made in Mexico, look for the label “Hecho en Mexico” which translates to "Made in Mexico".
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Reposado is a style of aged tequila. To qualify as a reposado, the tequila must be aged in barrels or storage tanks from anywhere between 2 and 11 months. Most tequila brands use a variety of wood barrels to age reposado, but the most popular are American and French oak.
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Añejo is a style of aged tequila. Añejo means the tequila has been aged anywhere from one to three years, typically in oak barrels. Most distillers use a variety of wood barrels to age Añejo tequila, but the most popular are American and French oak.
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Silver tequila, also referred to as Blanco, is a tequila can be bottled right after distillation, or can be aged in steel tanks for up to four weeks. Blanco translates to “white” in Spanish and generally means the tequila is devoid of color.
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Extra añejo is a style of aged tequila. Extra añejo means the spirit must be aged for more than three years, typically in oak barrels. Most distillers use a variety of wood barrels to age extra añejo tequila, but the most popular are American and French oak.
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It’s unlikely your tequila will freeze in your freezer. Most home freezers cannot reach the temperature tequila needs in order to freeze (-10 °F or -23 °C).
We don’t recommend putting Patrón Tequila in the freezer. It won’t ruin it, but drinking tequila at lower temperatures will affect the taste and aroma—at lower temperatures, the “sweet” flavor is usually lost. Instead, if you prefer to drink it cool, try tequila straight up by shaking or stirring it with ice and then straining it into a glass without ice.
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An unopened bottle of tequila has an indefinite shelf life, which means it won’t ever really expire. But once that bottle is opened, it will remain at peak quality for 1 year. After that, it’s likely to decline in smell, flavor and appearance.
If the tequila is stored improperly, it could affect the flavor; if it smells sour or off, it’s probably best to toss it. Read our article to learn more about how to properly store tequila.
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Yes, Patrón ultra-premium tequila is meant to be sipped and savored. Take your time to taste the aroma, flavor and complexity of the tequila. Enjoy it neat or on the rocks.
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Patrón is dedicated to handcrafting the finest tequila in the world, and our special edition products are no different. Our PATRÓN Tequila Limited Edition products in your region include:
- 2022 Mexican Heritage Tin
- Añejo Lot 221
- Extra Añejo 7 Años
- Extra Añejo 5 Años
- 2021 Mexican Heritage Tin
- 2020 Mexican Heritage Tin
- 2020 Chinese New Year Tin
- 2019 Chinese New Year Tin
- 2019 Mexican Heritage Tin
- PATRÓN x Guillermo Del Toro
- PATRÓN En Lalique Serie 2
- PATRÓN En Lalique Serie 1
- Sherry Cask Aged Añejo
- 2018 Chinese New Year Tin
- 2018 Mexican Heritage Tin
- 2017 Mexican Heritage Tin
- Brazil Tin
- Israel Tin
Margarita
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A margarita on the rocks is a type of margarita that is served over ice. Ingredients are mixed together in a cocktail shaker with ice and poured over fresh ice in a glass. For a fruity spin on this classic on the rocks, try our Patrón Perfect Margarita featuring Patrón Silver.
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The margarita cocktail is widely associated with Mexico and many believe it was invented there. However, its true origins are uncertain. One theory suggests the margarita was invented by a bartender named Carlos “Danny” Herrera in Tijuana, Mexico. Another theory attributes its invention to a socialité named Margarita Simes who created the cocktail for her guests in Acapulco, Mexico.
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The traditional margarita recipe is made with a ratio of 2:1:1, which means:
- 2 parts tequila or 60 ml
- 1 part triple sec or 30 ml
- 1 part lime juice or 30 ml
The above works for a single serving. You can always adjust the ratios depending on your taste—some people like it on the sweeter side or more tangy, for example. Always make sure to choose high-quality ingredients like perfectly handcrafted Patrón Tequila.
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Triple sec is an orange-flavored liqueur that is commonly used in margaritas. If you don’t have triple sec handy, you can substitute with another good-quality orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau.
For a non-alcoholic substitute you can add fresh orange juice, or agave nectar/simple syrup, to add a touch of sweetness.
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We believe fresh is always best. Nothing will bring forward the bright, citrusy, natural flavors and acidity like fresh squeezed limes. However, bottled lime juice is certainly a convenient option. If you decide to go this route, make sure to choose a high-quality brand that is 100% lime juice with no added sweeteners or flavors.
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A traditional margarita is a cocktail made with tequila, lime juice, and triple sec—an orange-flavored liqueur. It is typically served in a salt-rimmed glass, either on the rocks or frozen (blended with ice).
The proportions of the ingredients can vary depending on personal taste, but the most common ratio is 2:1:1 (tequila, lime juice, triple sec). This citrusy classic is a very popular drink widely enjoyed around the world. Try crafting the Patrón Perfect Margarita—a timeless classic.
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There is much speculation about the origins of the margarita. One popular theory attributes the invention to a socialité named Margarita Sames, who reportedly created the drink in 1948 for her guests at her vacation home in Acapulco, Mexico.
Another theory points to the margarita being invented by a bartender named Carlos “Danny” Herrera in Tijuana, Mexico around the 1930s-early 40s. Herrera named the cocktail after a customer, Margarita, who was allergic to all alcohol except tequila. Herrera combined tequila, lime, and triple sec and the margarita was born.
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The paloma and the margarita share a number of ingredients: tequila, lime, salt. But while the margarita is sweet and sour, the paloma is citrusy with a subtler sweetness and a more savory complexity.
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The true origin of the margarita’s name remains uncertain. One popular theory is that its name comes from Margarita Sames, a socialite who reportedly crafted the cocktail in 1948 for her guests. Another theory suggests that the margarita was originally called Tequila Daisy, a popular cocktail in the 1930s—margarita means daisy in Spanish. A third theory suggests a bartender named Carlos “Danny” Herrera named the cocktail after a customer, Margarita, who was allergic to all alcohol except tequila.
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National Margarita Day is celebrated on February 22 each year. It honors the margarita - one of the most popular tequila cocktails.
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Margarita of the Year is an international competition hosted by Patrón Tequila. Each year, world-class bartenders are invited to create their own version of the perfect margarita using their own local flavors. The Margarita of the Year is crowned by fans who vote through social media and at events for their favorite recipe.
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The history of the margarita can be traced back to 1953 with its first mention in Esquire Magazine. Since then, the cocktail has continued making margarita history in Patrón’s Margarita of the Year competition – an annual challenge for bartenders across the globe to create their version of the margarita using flavors from their local region.
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The best margarita recipe in 2019 was the Dynasty Margarita created by Jay Khan from Hong Kong. Khan's recipe featuring lychee and ginger was crowned the best margarita in 2019 by votes cast in the Patrón Margarita of the Year contest.
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The best margarita recipe in 2018 was the Verde Margarita created by José Luis León from Mexico City. León’s recipe featuring celery and Elderflower was crowned the best margarita in 2018 by votes cast in the Patrón Margarita of the Year contest.
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The winning Margarita of the Year bartender was Jay Khan from Hong Kong and his creation, the The Dynasty Margarita. Khan, who was the winner of Patrón’s Margarita of the Year contest, took home the title with a recipe featuring lychee and ginger, inspired by Chinese cuisine.
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To make a margarita, shake 1.5 oz. Patrón Silver Tequila, 1 oz. Patrón Citrónge Orange, .75 oz. lime juice and .25 oz. simple syrup. Serve in an ice-filled glass with salted rim.
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Mariano Martinez, a Mexican-American entrepreneur, invented the first frozen margarita machine in 1971, forever changing the history of the margarita. The machine was adapted from a soft serve ice cream machine to keep up with the large volume of orders at his restaurant for their blended margarita.
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A classic margarita typically contains tequila, citrus juice, orange liqueur and simple syrup.
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International Margarita Day is celebrated every year on February 22. It honors the margarita - one of the most popular cocktails featuring tequila.
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Although the exact ingredients of the original margarita recipe are unknown, the first time the tequila cocktail made its way into print was in the December 1953 issue of Esquire Magazine.
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Tequila Cocktails
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Tequila and lime go way back before the days of premium tequila when limes were used to mask the flavor while doing shots.
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Ranch Water is a popular cocktail that originated in West Texas. Bursting with refreshing flavors and simple to make, it has only three ingredients: tequila, lime juice, and sparkling water. It is the perfect cocktail for hot, summer days and outside gatherings.
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The best tequila for Ranch Water is silver tequila. Make yourself a Patrón Ranch Water featuring Patrón Silver for a deliciously simple cocktail.
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A classic paloma typically contains tequila, lime juice, and a grapefruit-flavored soda served on the rocks with a lime wedge. Learn how to make a Patrón Paloma for yourself or guests!
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While most paloma recipes call for a blanco tequila—like the PATRÓN SILVER—our PATRÓN PALOMA uses PATRÓN REPOSADO. The fine balance of fresh agave & oak with notes of fruit, citrus and honey in the tequila blends perfectly with the bittersweet flavor of grapefruit juice to create a paloma like no other.
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Tequila Nutrition
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Each of our bottles of Patrón Tequila contains 40% alcohol by volume or 80 proof. Using only the finest 100% Weber Blue Agave, our tequila is handcrafted in small batches to be smooth, sweet and easily mixable.
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Patrón Tequila has zero grams of sugar. Patrón is additive-free, which means that we do not add sugar or any other ingredient that alters the taste, smell or color of our tequila.
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There are zero carbs in Patrón Tequila.
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There are zero grams of caffeine in Patrón Tequila.
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Yes, Patrón Tequila is gluten-free. Our tequilas are made from 100% Weber Blue Agave, which naturally does not contain any gluten.
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There are 56 Calories per 25 ml (1 serving) in every bottle of Patrón Tequila.
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All Patrón tequilas are certified Kosher, except Burdeos.
Only Patrón silver tequilas (Core, Roca, and Smoky) are certified Kosher for Passover.
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Additive-free Tequila
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As of January 2020, the below distilleries, some of which produce multiple tequila brands as designated by their NOM assignment, have been credited as verified additive-free. Patrón is the world's number one super-premium tequila brand to receive the verification.
- Patrón Tequila (NOM 1492)
- Tequila Fortaleza (NOM 1493) [2 brands]
- El Pandillo (G4, Terralta, etc.) (NOM 1579) [6 brands]
- Vivanco (NOM 1414) [7 brands]
- Cascahuín (NOM 1123) [4 brands]
- Tequileña (NOM 1146) [12 brands]
- Arette (NOM 1109) [1 brand]
- El Tequileño (NOM 1108) [1 brand]
- Suave (NOM 1522) [1 brand]
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To be classified as “tequila” the product has to be made from 100% blue agave and is permitted to have a maximum of 1% of additives. A “mixto tequila” has at least 51% of its volume made from blue agave distillate and the other 49% can be distilled from other non agave sugars (usually sugar cane).
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Patrón uses the highest-quality ingredients and production process to achieve our distinct taste and color. The process starts at the agave field where we select only the best agave with a specifically high sugar content to deliver the exceptionally smooth flavor Patrón is known for. To create our aged expressions, Patrón Silver is aged in our carefully selected barrels where it gains natural flavors like caramel and vanilla as well as its natural color.
Patrón has an entire portfolio of aged expressions ranging from two months at minimum for Reposado and all the way up to ten years for Extra Añejo 10 Años, our oldest tequila. All of our aged expressions have different colors, flavors and tasting notes all thanks to our variety of barrels. No flavor or color is achieved from additives.
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To cut down on production time, many tequila producers use concentrated additives to add flavor back to correct shortcuts taken during the production process. Examples include:
- As a sweetening agent in lieu of premium agave
- As a way to create a more rounded mouth feel
- As a way to make tequila taste, smell or look as if it’s been aged longer than it truly has
Additives used in tequila can be difficult to detect when used in a subtle way and are most identifiable when aromas and flavors are very prominent and dominate the drinking experience.
Because of our unwavering commitment to craft, authenticity, and integrity Patrón has never used additives in our premium tequila.
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More sugar and flavor additives naturally will increase the tequila’s overall sweetness. While there is no research to prove that additives are necessarily “bad for you”, at Patrón, we believe the best quality ingredients make for the highest quality tequila and for a simply perfect drinking experience.
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PATRÓN Silver, PATRÓN Reposado, PATRÓN Añejo, and PATRÓN Extra Añejo are endorsed additive free by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) of Mexico. This means that we do not add anything to our tequilas that alter their taste, smell, or colour. No ingredients, such as glycerin, food colouring, synthetic agave, or oak extracts are added to enhance flavour or appearance. With that comes tequila in its highest and purest form. Drinking PATRÓN Tequila ensures you know what’s in your glass.
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Patrón Story
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Jimadors are what the skilled workers are called that are responsible for how agave is cut. They chop the agave with a sharp tool called a Coa. The trade is typically passed down from one generation to the next. Perfectly chopping the agave is a key part in creating Patrón Tequila.
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A Tiki is a carving of a human form. It can be made out of wood or stone, and that explains the ceramic mugs cocktails are generally served in. Explore our Tiki Cocktail Collection.
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Hacienda Patrón is where all of Patrón tequila is distilled. The Hacienda features a reverse osmosis system and state-of-the-art compost machine right on the premises of Hacienda Patrón that adds to the sustainability of everything we do. Learn more about the Hacienda on our virtual tour.
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Patrón tequila has been referenced in over 250 popular songs.
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The centuries old tahona process is used to squeeze the juice from the agave fibers to make tequila. A tahona wheel is made of volcanic stone and can weigh up to two tons. The tahona wheel is a key part in creating Patrón Tequila.
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Patrón tequila was founded by Martin Crowley and John Paul DeJoria.
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NOM, or Norma Oficial Mexicana, is a four-digit number that appears on every tequila bottle and lets you know which producer a brand comes from. If two brands share a NOM number, they were made in the same place and might even share the same process. Visit our story to explore the different distilleries and the brands they produce.
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Oloroso is a Spanish sherry that is distinctively dark, rich, full-bodied, and nutty, often containing complex and wide-ranging notes, which is why casks used to age it are prized by producers of whisky, rum, and now Patrón tequila.
Patrón Sherry Cask Aged Añejo is fully matured in casks formerly used to age Oloroso Sherry—the only wood the liquid has ever known. As a result, the interaction helps the tequila evolve into an even more nuanced, buttery expression with rich notes of dried fruit, caramel, vanilla, clove, pecans, and walnuts. Underneath all of that, though, it has still retained the unmistakably peppery, herbal-citrus, sweet agave and mildly vegetal character that’s at the heart of all tequilas from Hacienda Patrón.
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Agave is the plant from which tequila is made. Growing agave for tequila takes around 7 years for the plant to reach maturity for harvest. Learn more about the role agave plays in crafting Patron Tequila.
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To produce one bottle of Patrón Tequila, no less than 60 hands will be involved from start to finish.
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The corks that top Patrón Tequila’s signature bottle are made in Portugal, where the bark from cork trees can only be cut during a very specific window to remain sustainable.
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Holidays and Special Events
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Día de Muertos is a Mexican 3-day celebration of life, where the dead are remembered and honored. Halloween is an ancient tradition from the Celtic region of Europe, where it was believed that on this day, the worlds between the living and the dead blurred and spirits caused disturbances on Earth.
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Purchasing Patrón Tequila
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There are a lot of places where you can buy Patrón Tequila. Did you know you can buy Patrón Tequila online, at a store near by or using a same-day delivery service?
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Patrón has discontinued the following products:
- Patrón Citrónge Lime
- Patrón Citrónge Pineapple
- Patrón Citrónge Mango
- Gran Patrón Smoky
- Roca Patrón Silver
- Roca Patrón Reposado
- Roca Patrón Añejo
- Patrón XO Cafe
However, check out Citrónge Orange Liqueur and other handcrafted tequilas.
Learn more about products are no longer available for purchase
Bartending Tips
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Dry shaking a cocktail is essential when preparing cocktails that call for eggs, egg whites or heavy cream. First, combine the ingredients in a shaker without ice and shake. Add ice and shake vigorously to chill and dilute the drink, then serve.
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Lemon zest is an easy way to garnish a cocktail. All you need tomake a zest is a channel knife or zester. Puncture the peel of the citrus and drag the zester around perimeter of the fruit to create a long piece of zest. You can then twist to create a spiral.
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A simple way to strain a cocktail is to top your shaker with the strainer after mixing your cocktail. While holding the strainer against the wall of the shaker with your index finger, tilt to pour the mixture through the strainer and into glassware to serve.
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To make simple syrup for cocktails, combine one cup of water and one cup of sugar in a pot and simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until all the sugar dissolves. Do not boil. Remove from heat, cool and refrigerate for up to four weeks.
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To rim a cocktail glass with salt, cut a lime in half and swipe the flesh of the fruit across half of the glassware’s lip to moisten. Then roll the pre-moistened portion into the rimming salt and shake to remove any excess.
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First, choose a cocktail spoon, either a simple straight-line spoon, a twisted spoon for a little bit more balance or an extra-large spoon. Combine iceand the cocktail to a mixing vessel and stir with the back of the spoon pressed far against the edge of your mixing glass.
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Rolling is used to chill and aerate a cocktail while combining thicker ingredients together. To roll a cocktail, you need a set of mixing tins and a strainer. Fill one shaker with ice and trap it down with the strainer. Slowly pour the contents from one shaker to the other 5 to 6 times before serving.
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The right way to muddle is simple, just add fresh berries or herbs to a vessel and press down with a muddler, spoon or bottom of a jar to express the juice or oil from herbs. Be careful not to over muddle herbs as this can create bitter tasting cocktails.
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