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Those of you who are connoisseurs of alcoholic beverages must be wondering about the differences between Don Julio and Patron.
Though they are both reputable brands providing good quality tequila, there are some fundamental differences between the two beverages that set them apart.
For example, Don Julio delivers a unique aroma enriched with the scent of grapefruit, agave, and lemon. Likewise, Patron silver also supplies an uplifting agave aroma, but it does not have the same potency and richness as Don Julio in taste and scent.
Hence to realize which of these beverages is more suited to your liking, read the article below, highlighting their differences.
Don Julio Vs. Patron
How Are They Made?
Don Julio and Patron are both Mexican brands making premium liquor, but they differ in their manufacturing process.
Both companies incorporate Agave as the prime ingredient. However, Don Julio believes in sectioning the pinas into equal pieces, while Patron uses a miller and tahona to crush the Agave completely.
Making of Don Julio
Source of agave
The founders of Don Julio have family land in Atotonilco, which provides the agave for tequila.
The aging process for tequila is long and complex, so the company focuses on carrying it over time along with the growth of the agave plants because they require at least seven years to fully mature.
Making
The company’s hired workers harvest each plant carefully by hand. After harvesting, the workers separate the root of the agave plant and snip off the pointy leaves.
People refer to the remainder of the plant as piña. This makes up the primary raw material involved in tequila production.
A truck transports the remainder of the plants to Don Julio’s distillation facility. Here, experts carefully section the plants into same-sized portions so they are baked equally in brick ovens. The baking process lasts several days.
Once the baking process is complete, experts crush the piñas and soak them in water, releasing the agave syrup or juice, which has a sweet taste.
Then a measured amount of yeast is mixed into the agave syrup and put aside for fermentation. Once fermentation is complete, it produces a slightly alcoholic beverage with a mild and sweet flavor. This is the agave beer that turns into tequila after further distillation in stills.
Next, experts load the tequila into stainless steel tanks or bourbon casks to allow it to age and develop more flavor. Lastly, the liquid is poured into bottles and delivered to shops for selling.
Patron Making Process
Source of agave
Patron sources Weber Blue Agave for making tequila from the highlands of Jalisco. The company ensures that the agave plants are fresh and directly brought to the factory for tequila production.
Patron chooses the agave plants from Jalisco highlands over those growing in Tequila valley because Jalisco experiences a cooler climate, more rainfall per annum, and has a more fertile soil rich in iron oxide.
These factors boost the growth of the plants and increase their sugar content by many folds. This guarantees the excellent taste and quality of the tequila.
Making
Once the agave plant is seven or eight years old, farmers harvest it and cut down the leaves and roots. The pina left behind is then cut into four portions so that each part evenly bakes in a brick oven.
The starches in the pina change into fermented sugar because of the steam baking process.
It is essential to bake the Agave over a long duration and to give it ample time to cool so that the best flavor can develop. Undercooked Agave has minimum sugar resulting in a bland taste, while over-baked Agave is bitter and does not allow the yeast to work.
After baking, experts manually unload the agave on a conveyor belt and send it to the roller-mill machines for crushing.
This squeezes out the sugary syrup from the pinas, after which the juice collects in a holding tank. Here the experts add a specific amount of water and mix and aerate the liquid.
The experts also analyze the sugar content and add more water to dilute it if it is too sweet or more honey to sweeten it if it’s bland. Then the concoction is sent to fermentation tanks where experts add the yeast.
The rest of the process is similar involving distillation, the addition of water, and aging before packaging and selling.
Varieties
Patron has a more diverse selection of alcoholic beverages than Don Julio. However, many people prefer Don Julio tequila because of its clean and neat taste.
Don Julio
The most popular variety is Don Julio Blanco which people also call “silver tequila”. It has such a unique and flavorful profile that it forms the basis for the other beverages by Don Julio.
The other famous varieties include the following.
- Don Julio Anejo
- Don Julio 1942 Añejo
- Don Julio 70 Añejo Claro
- Don Julio Reposado
- Don Julio Real Extra Anejo
Patron
Patron tequila differs from Don Julio because it provides tequila with a rich coffee flavor, aside from the pure tequila variants. The line featuring coffee-infused tequila is famously known as Patron XO Café. This is ideal for those who are ardent coffee lovers.
If you wish to try Patron, below are some of their popular variants:
- Patron Añejo
- Roca Patron Silver
- Patron Silver
- Gran Patron Piedra
- Patron Reposado
- Gran Patron Burdeos
- Roca Patron Añejo
- Gran Patron Platinum
Taste and Essence
The Don Julio Blanco delivers a fruity essence since it has hints of grapefruit, lemon, and lime. Hence it has a refreshing and zesty flavor that slides down your palate very smoothly and reminds you of summertime and citrus fruits.
Many people identify a mildly sweet flavor and finish of agave in Don Julio Blanco. On the contrary, although Patron Silver has a similar essence and aroma to citrus fruits, consumers also detect a subtle peppery taste.
According to connoisseurs of alcohol, Patron has a mild and ordinary taste, but Don Julio is richer in flavor and glides down the tongue more smoothly.
Patron has a neutral flavor which is appropriate for those who prefer mild tequila, and because of being gentle, it mixes well with other liquids. Hence Patron is ideal for making fun cocktails like Palomas and margaritas.
Don Julio has a more potent taste and is very distinctive in flavor. It is better to drink it as is, instead of incorporating it into cocktails because it delivers a unique mix of flavors in each sip. This play of several flavors in every sip makes it more luxurious than Patron.
Fame and Prestige
Patron tequila indicates sophistication. It is an ideal choice to surprise your guests and impress them.
The aggressive marketing since its inception has given great fame to Patron. Now it is recognized as the foremost choice of tequila among celebrities.
Moreover, Patron tequila comes in exquisite packaging. Each bottle is a work of art, numbered by hand and gorgeous.
The Patron en Lalique: Series 2 costs $7,500 not only because of its flavor but because it comes in a graceful and eye-catching crystal bottle.
Prices
Patron tequila is slightly more expensive than Don Julio. The cheapest variety in Patron tequila is the Patron Silver which varies from $22 for 375ml up to $95 for 1.75L.
The most costly variety of Patron is the Gran Patron Burdeo which retails from $419.99 – to $499.99 and targets a richer clientele.
The most reasonably priced variety at Don Julio is Blanco Tequila. It typically costs about $41.99-45.99 for a 750ml bottle.
Their most expensive version of tequila, called Don Julio Real Tequila, ranges from $399.99 to $419.99, which is still a cheaper alternative than Gran Patron Burdeo.
To better understand the prices of Don Julio Vs Patron, refer to the table below.
| Serial no | Type | Volume | Price in dollars |
| 1 | Don Julio 70 | 750ml | $88 |
| 2 | Don Julio 1942 | 750ml | $160 |
| 3 | Don Julio Real Tequila | 750ml | $412 |
| 4 | Gran Patron Burdeo | 750ml | $419.99 – $499.99 |
| 5 | Gran Patron Piedra | 750ml | $319.99 – $399.99 |
| 6 | Patron Anejo | 750ml | $49.99 – $52.99 |
| 7 | Gran Patron Platinum | 750ml | $190.99 – $199.99 |
Conclusion
While analyzing Don Julio vs. Patron, there are clear differences between the two, although they are both exceptional tequilas to indulge in at a party. Ultimately it depends on your flavor palate and the preference of your company.
If you and your friends prefer tequila with a robust taste, Don Julio is the best option. However, if you want to impress your guests with your class and choice with a tequila option that mixes well with cocktails, consider going for Patron.
