db interview: Lee Applbaum of Patrón Tequila

It’s a sunny early spring day in London and Lee Applbaum is celebrating with Margaritas. Sitting down to lunch in the bright, buzzy Oxo Tower restaurant boasting enviable views of St Paul’s, Applbaum is excited for me to try the English Garden Margarita, created by the Oxo Tower’s assistant bar manager Sophie Bratt as part of Patrón’s Margarita of the Year competition, which saw seven bartenders from around the world gather at Patrón’s HQ in Jalisco to create their personal twists on the classic cocktail. The top three finalists will go head to head on 17 April when the winner will be announced.

Elaborately made with a pumpkin oil and smoked salt rim, Bratt’s cocktail blends….