Bacardí has relaunched its Patrón XO Cafe coffee-infused tequila liqueur in the UK after a three-year hiatus.
The popular tipple – discontinued by Bacardí in 2021 owing to agave shortages that required the spirits giant to prioritise other variants in the Patrón roster – is to make its UK return via the on-trade this month.
Patrón has partnered with bar chain The Alchemist to offer a Café Patrón XO Solar Shot Board, featuring six shots of the liqueur alongside a salted caramel caviar. The board will cost £38 outside London and £44 in The Alchemist locations in the capital.
The Grocer understands Patrón XO Cafe will initially be restricted to the on-premise channel, before making a return in grocery in 2025.
A 35% abv coffee-infused liqueur, Patrón XO Cafe established a cult following as a popular shot in pubs and bars prior to its axing by Bacardí in 2021.
Retail sales grew from £550k to £1.9m in the year to 15 May 2021 [NIQ], but Bacardí ceased production to focus “on growing and protecting production and supply of our core super and ultra-premium tequilas”, then-Patrón president and COO Mauricio Vergara told The Grocer at the time.
The move was met with disappointment, with some disgruntled shoppers even starting an online petition urging Bacardí not to discontinue the drink.
Several brands, including Cazcabel and Vivir, have launched coffee-infused tequila drinks in recent year to fill the gap left by Patrón XO Cafe.
The liqueur was relaunched in the US in April of this year. At the time, however, Bacardí said quantities would be limited and it was “not expected to be released elsewhere in the foreseeable future”.
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