Patrón tequila in Westford: silver, reposado, añejo

Patrón is a tequila brand from Jalisco, Mexico, and CBC Liquors in Westford stocks several of its bottles today, from silver to extra añejo. The full range is on the Patrón brand page, and this guide explains what each bottle is, how to drink it and how to get it from us.

What is Patrón?

Patrón is a tequila made in Jalisco, Mexico. Like all tequila, it is distilled from blue Weber agave, a plant that takes years to mature before it is harvested. The cooked agave is fermented and distilled, and what happens after distilling decides which style ends up in the bottle.

The brand sells the same spirit at different stages of ageing: unaged silver, then reposado, añejo and extra añejo. Each one tastes noticeably different, so the question to ask is less "is this Patrón?" and more "which Patrón suits what I am making or pouring?"

You can see everything we carry from the brand on the Patrón brand page. Our wider tequila category covers every other brand and style if you want to compare.

Which Patrón bottles does CBC Liquors carry?

We have six Patrón bottlings in stock right now. The core range is PATRON Silver Tequila, PATRON Reposado Tequila and PATRON Anejo Tequila. Alongside them you will find PATRON Anejo, PATRON Extra Anejo Tequila and PATRON Gran Platinum.

Stock moves, so if you need a particular bottle for a particular evening, check the product page or call the shop at 142 Littleton Rd before you drive over.

The store carries 4,617 products across 1,892 brands, so if Patrón is not quite what you want, there is plenty of other tequila, whiskey, vodka and rum on the shelves to look at as well.

What is the difference between silver, reposado and añejo?

The names describe how long the tequila rested in wood after distilling. Silver, also called blanco, is bottled unaged or very briefly rested. It tastes of agave first, with a clean, peppery, slightly citrus edge. You can browse more of this style in our blanco tequila section.

Reposado means "rested". By the usual rules it spends at least two months and under a year in oak. The wood softens the spirit and adds a pale gold colour and a touch of vanilla and spice, while the agave is still easy to taste. More bottles in this style sit under reposado tequila.

Añejo means "aged", at least one year and up to three in oak. It is rounder and warmer, with more caramel, baking spice and wood. Extra añejo is aged for more than three years and is usually treated more like a fine whiskey or cognac than a mixing spirit. If you want the longer explanation, we wrote one on añejo tequila.

How should you drink Patrón?

Match the bottle to the glass. Silver is the one to reach for in cocktails because its bright agave character holds up against citrus and sweetener. It also works well over ice with a wedge of citrus, or chilled and neat in a small glass.

Reposado is the all-rounder. It is smooth enough to sip and still has enough character for a margarita with a little more depth. Some people like it in a paloma, where the grapefruit soda plays well with the light oak.

Añejo and extra añejo are for slow sipping. Pour them neat or over a single large cube in a rocks glass or a snifter-style glass, and give them a minute to open up. Mixing them with sugary juice hides most of what the extra ageing is for.

Which Patrón is best for a margarita?

For a classic margarita, silver is the usual answer. A margarita is tequila, orange liqueur and citrus, and an unaged tequila keeps the drink sharp and clean. The orange part can come from our liqueur section.

If you prefer a softer, slightly richer margarita, try reposado. The oak rounds the edges and the drink finishes a little warmer. Many people use it for a margarita served on the rocks in cooler months.

For tall drinks such as a paloma or a tequila and soda, the shop's mixers category is the place to look for what you need to go with the bottle. Pick up the mixer when you collect the tequila and the whole drink is sorted in one stop.

Is a Patrón bottle a good gift?

A boxed or recognisable bottle of tequila is an easy gift for someone who enjoys the spirit, provided they are 21 or older. The choice comes down to what they are likely to do with it.

Someone who makes cocktails at home will get more from silver or reposado. Someone who sips spirits neat will probably appreciate añejo, and extra añejo is the step up for a milestone occasion. PATRON Gran Platinum is another bottle to ask about if you want something a little out of the ordinary.

If you cannot decide, tell us what the person usually drinks and we will point you to a bottle on the shelf. A gift card from the shop is the alternative when you would rather let them choose.

How do you store an open bottle of tequila?

Keep the bottle upright, with the cap or stopper tight, somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. Unlike wine, tequila does not need to be laid on its side, and a stopper that stays in contact with the spirit for long stretches can eventually wear.

A kitchen cabinet away from the stove works well. Heat and bright light dull flavour over time, and air slowly dulls the aroma of an opened bottle, so put the cap back on after pouring.

If you have several bottles open, label the older ones so you finish them first. A bottle of añejo or extra añejo that is half empty is worth finishing by the glass rather than leaving for a year.

Can you pick up or get Patrón delivered from CBC Liquors?

Yes, we do pickup, delivery and shipping. Pickup hours match the shop's opening hours: Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Delivery runs a little earlier at the end of the day: Sunday until 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday until 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday until 9:30 PM. You can check the delivery areas page to see where we go, and we also serve Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Lowell and nearby towns.

Shipping rules are on our shipping policy page. Whichever way you get your bottle, you will need to show valid ID proving you are 21 or older.