London, England – Patrón Tequila is proud to announce the appointment of their new brand ambassador with immediate effect; Benji Ryde. Benji will join Karine Tillard on the Patrón advocacy team in the UK.
This talented mixologist and tequila-enthusiast hales from a diverse hospitality background, most recently as General Manager at Coconut Bar and Kitchen in Reading. Benji also held previous General Manager positions at Rynd Bar & Kitchen and Mix Cocktail Bar, also in Reading.
Benji is a natural choice for the Patrón ambassadorship and is familiar with the spirit. He has participated in a number of high profile competitions including the Patrón Perfectionists competition, where he achieved a spot as one of the top 10 finalists and was asked to take his serve ‘From Dusk til Dawn’ to the 2015 final. The following year, he was invited to join the panel alongside Sandrae Lawrence of The Cocktail Lovers and Patrón brand ambassador Karine Tillard, to judge the 2016 Patrón Perfectionists competition heat in his hometown.
Speaking about his appointment, Benji Ryde said: “I’m excited to be appointed to represent Patrón Tequila and join the team alongside ambassador Karine Tillard. Tequila is my go-to spirit and I love Patrón as it has such versatility and is so perfect for mixing with cocktails. Patrón cares about the same things bartenders do; sourcing of ingredients, sustainability and quality. It will also be a joy building visibility of a brand which has such integrity”.
CMO of Patrón Spirits International Lee Applbaum commented on the appointment: “At Patrón we are committed to advocacy and invest heavily in ontrade education. We have led the conversation in transforming perceptions of tequila amongst consumers and the trade. The tequila category’s growth is being led by cocktail consumption and Benji is well-placed to support this continued growth.
Benji brings with him a wealth of knowledge that makes him an invaluable asset for continuing to educate and inspire consumers and trade on the virtues of artisanal hand-crafted tequila and how it can be enjoyed”.
