Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, Mexico - Spicy. Smoky. Herbal. Tropical. There are countless styles of margaritas, and even more margarita recipes - ranging from classic to wildly inventive - that contribute to the margarita's place as one of the most popular cocktails in the world.

Patrón, the global leader in the 100 percent agave ultra-premium tequila category, has embarked on a pursuit to find margarita drinkers' favorite style of this ubiquitous, and often misunderstood, classic cocktail. The "Search for 2016's Margarita of the Year" began on National Margarita Day (February 22), with the winner announced in late April, in time for Cinco de Mayo.

"On National Margarita Day, Cinco de Mayo, or any day, there is no specific style of margarita that's the 'right' one. However, this world-class cocktail always deserves an equally world-class tequila, and that's why Patrón is so excited to celebrate and share in its rich history," says Lee Applbaum, Patrón's Global Chief Marketing Officer. "We didn't invent the margarita, but we certainly perfected it, and our 'Search for 2016's Margarita of the Year' celebrates the increasing popularity, incredible versatility, and fascinating back story of this iconic cocktail."

For Patrón's "Search for 2016's Margarita of the Year," the company enlisted the help of seven top bartenders from across the U.S. and Mexico to create recipes for seven different styles of margaritas, reflecting their personal influences on what makes the #PerfectMargarita, and also the local taste of their cities, culinary trends, and the history of the drink.

The recipes for the seven styles of margaritas – herbal, spicy, smoky, savory, modern, tropical and classic – can be found at MargaritaOfTheYear.com, where people can log in and cast a vote (once daily, through April 15) for their favorite. Consumers will also be invited to vote live at various Patrón-sponsored events over the coming months. The votes will be tallied and the three most popular styles of margaritas will then be showcased at a pre-Cinco de Mayo event in New York, where the winning "Margarita of the Year" will be crowned.

The seven competing cocktails were created by Stephen Halpin from Dallas (smoky margarita), Bettina Barnoczki from Miami (tropical margarita), Jordan Corney from San Antonio (spicy margarita), Ryan Brown from Tampa (herbal margarita), Laura Newman from Brooklyn (savory margarita), Rosie Ruiz from Los Angeles (modern margarita), and Andrés Moran from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (classic margarita).

Earlier this year, Patrón brought together all of the participating bartenders to travel to the Hacienda Patrón distillery in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to prepare and perfect their inspired recipes. The Margarita of the Year site features videos and interviews from that spirited gathering, including instructional videos about how to prepare each cocktail. The site also contains downloadable recipes, and a full history of the drink's (often debated) history, as well as conversations and stories about the evolution of this very famous cocktail.

"The history and evolution of the margarita is as fascinating as the drink itself, and it's been exciting to see how the margarita has been re-imagined and interpreted in so many ways over the years," says David Alan, Patrón's Manager of Trade Education & Mixology. "The margarita is a unique drink, both rustically simple and extraordinarily versatile – a crowd-pleaser, yet not a one-taste-fits-all experience. Patrón's 'Search for 2016 Margarita of the Year' brings all of this together in one place."

About Patrón Tequila
From hand-harvesting the highest-quality 100 percent Weber Blue Agave, to the traditional, time-honored distillation process and individual labeling, numbering, and inspection of each bottle, Patrón tequila is crafted with meticulous precision and care. Though Patrón has grown to become one of the most-recognized and respected luxury spirits brands in the world, it is still exclusively produced in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, in the same small batches and with the same commitment to quality and craftsmanship. For more information about Patrón tequilas and liqueurs, please visit PatronTequila.com.