Michael Aredes

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THE PATRÓN DIARIES

Bartender Michael Aredes Mixes Joy, Spice, and Authenticity In the“Look-At-Me” Margarita

words by ANDREA GOTO photography by JEFF BROWN

Michael Aredes is passionate about a lot of things: dance, music, hospitality, being a good human, and having a really good time doing it all. The sum of these passions coalesce in his bartending role at a popular Mexican American cocktail bar in New York City’s East Village, at his queer pop-up, Noche Traviesa, and with every cocktail he thoughtfully creates. “Behind the bar, Michael is a wild animal,” Aredes says of himself, laughing. “I go between this really fun, crazy person who’s dancing, yelling and singing, to someone who is in the zone, executing cocktails efficiently, cleanly. It’s kind of interesting to watch.”

Aredes, whose family is Mexican and Puerto Rican, moved to New York City from Los Angeles, where he grew up, just over a decade ago with only $1,600 in his pocket and a dream to bring his “flavor” to the Big Apple. After a few early gigs at a Mexican restaurant and bakery, Aredes earned himself a bartender-in-residency program and a permanent place behind the bar where he has been developing playful, adventurous, and ambitious cocktail menus ever since. And the ideal partner for these creations? PATRÓN Tequila, known for its handcrafted, additive-free process. The preference makes perfect sense. “PATRÓN has always positioned themselves as a premium, additive-free tequila,” Aredes explains. While labels will indicate on their label to be 100% agave, they are legally allowed to include up to 1% of additives like sweetener, glycerin, wood extract, and caramel coloring. These additives can be added to soften the taste of the tequila, or mellow the flavor profile. Aredes, like PATRÓN, is all about transparency and authenticity. And as someone who “operates in joy,” he aligns with PATRÓN Tequila’s value for quality craftsmanship balanced with environmental care and social responsibility.

The preference makes perfect sense. “PATRÓN has always positioned themselves as a premium, additive-free tequila,” Aredes explains. While labels will indicate on their label to be 100% agave, they are legally allowed to include up to 1% of additives like sweetener, glycerin, wood extract, and caramel coloring. These additives can be added to soften the taste of the tequila, or mellow the flavor profile. Aredes, like PATRÓN, is all about transparency and authenticity. And as someone who “operates in joy,” he aligns with PATRÓN Tequila’s value for quality craftsmanship balanced with environmental care and social responsibility.

THE INGREDIENTS OF MICHAEL'S "TODOS ME MIRAN"

PATRÓN Reposado

spicing things up, naturally That same pride of place and tradition — with a heavy dose of Aredes-style flavor — is at the heart of this riff on a traditional Margarita, which Aredes calls “Todos Me Miran” (everyone is looking at me). It’s the cocktail embodiment of the spirited bartender. “My whole approach is being super silly and spontaneous, and that’s why the name is ‘Todos Me Miran,’” he says. “It’s basically saying, ‘Just look at me; I’m [the coolest].’”

In the Spirit of Greatness Aredes points out that PATRÓN Tequila’s intentionality in craft and production carries over to their dedication to sustainable practices and social responsibility. PATRÓN upcycles, recycles, and/or reuses the majority of production waste and, as of 2024, has eliminated plastic from all secondary packaging. They are also committed to paying a profitable price to agave growers and support a number of charitable organizations in Mexico and around the world. All of this demonstrates a dedication to perfection that extends beyond the craft of tequila-making, by honoring tradition while serving as a steward of Mexico’s land, water, and people.

bringing premium to the tequilA table PATRÓN Tequila’s launch in 1989 disrupted the U.S. tequila market by producing one of the finest additive-free tequilas in the world with just three ingredients: 100% Weber Blue Agave, water and yeast. At the time, the category had become flooded with quickly and cheaply made mixtos. Consumers outside of Mexico were unaware of tequila’s tradition as being high-quality with a unique flavor that distinguished it from other regional agave spirits. They began to perceive the once-dignified Mexican staple of tequila as undesirable. PATRÓN changed that, crafting premium tequila using traditional, time-tested methods, and presenting it as a luxury spirit.

Hacienda PATRÓN, built in the spirit of Mexican heritage, naturally begins on the agave farms in Jalisco, where Jimadors hand-select and uproot only those Weber blue agave with optimal sugar content. After being fermented, distilled and, in some cases — as with PATRÓN Reposado, which Aredes often reaches for when making a cocktail — aged in a carefully selected American, oak barrels, PATRÓN Reposado boasts smooth roasted agave flavors with hints of light oak and vanilla. “The agave-forward flavor combined with notes from the barrel aging, gives the PATRÓN Reposado a little more ‘oomph,’” says Aredes, “and really helps to highlight the other natural tastes in a cocktail.” Today, after decades of producing additive-free premium tequila, PATRÓN is considered one of the finest tequilas in the world and sold in more than 100 countries globally.

Like PATRÓN, Aredes believes that when the best ingredients are used, there’s no need for anything extra. “I don’t add any artificial sugars,” Aredes says. “I use agave nectar and cut it down with the fruit and fresh lime juice.” Hence, the name. “This cocktail shines with the ingredient’s colors that are on the glass, and in the glass. It’s a standout so why not have everyone look at it and admire it?”

The “Todos me Miran” Recipe

Ingredients 1 ¾ ounces PATRÓN Reposado ¾ ounce Cara Cara orange agave syrup* ¾ ounce lime juice 1 ounce kiwi puree, homemade preferable 1 slice habanero pepper Garnish: kiwi slice and Tajín twist rim

Directions Rim a chilled single rocks glass with Tajín by rubbing a lime wedge onto the rim and dipping into a small plate of the spice mix. Measure all ingredients into a tin. Shake hard with ice for about 15 seconds. Top with large 2"x2" cube and kiwi slice.

Cara Cara orange agave syrup

Lime juice

Homemade Kiwi Puree

Habanero pepper

Kiwi slice

Tajin twist

INGREDIENTS 4 ounces fresh Cara Cara orange juice 4 ounces agave syrup

Hover over the circles to see what makes up this delicious cocktail.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PATRóN REPOSADO

Kiwi, one of Aredes favorite fruits, is the perfect pairing. “It’s high acid, tropical, fruity — very much like me. It’s fun!”

For this drink, Aredes says he wanted to focus on seasonality — moving from winter to spring — while highlighting the natural notes of PATRÓN Reposado that make the cocktail shine.

He also likes catching people off guard with unexpected pairings. “Kiwi is a high-acid fruit that’s usually considered something for summer, and Cara Cara oranges are sweet, have a beautiful interior color and are 100% winter,” he says. “So why am I using these opposite flavors? Because they work well together!”

dedication to perfection that extends beyond the craft of tequila-making, by honoring tradition while serving as a steward of Mexico’s land, water, and people.

PATRÓN Reposado a little more ‘oomph,’” says Aredes, “and really helps to highlight the other natural tastes in a cocktail.” Today, after decades of producing additive-free premium tequila, PATRÓN is considered one of the finest tequilas in the world and sold in more than 100 countries globally.

Fruit meets spice Because of PATRÓN Reposado’s excellent flavor profile, Aredes only uses natural ingredients to complement, not to overpower.

(He has a kiwi tattoo on his arm.) Playing with spices is also something he’s accustomed to. “I use habanero for this cocktail because I’ve always liked chile,” he says. “My mom always ate jalapeños whole, which I thought was strange.” Aredes incorporates a twist of Tajín’s newest sweet and sour blend on the rim because it has “a really fun acid and saltiness to it,” though he doesn’t want any one thing to be the highlight. “Since there’s the fruit, spice with the habanero, and tartness with the kiwi, I wanted to do something with continuity while still giving a nice visual appeal, showcasing all the different, natural colors.”

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Click the circles to see what makes up this delicious cocktail.

*Cara Cara Agave Recipe

Directions Juice Cara Cara oranges and strain out pulp. Pour agave immediately into fresh juice and mix until agave is fully diluted.

*Cara Cara Agave Recipe INGREDIENTS 4 ounces fresh Cara Cara orange juice 4 ounces agave syrup DIRECTIONS Juice Cara Cara oranges and strain out pulp. Pour agave immediately into fresh juice and mix until agave is fully diluted.