When people ask who invented Patron?, they’re not just curious about who started the brand; they want to know how it became a global symbol of luxury, craftsmanship, and Mexican heritage. Here’s the complete and true story, based on verified facts, no myths, no confusion.
The Real Founders of Patrón
Patrón was officially founded in 1989 by John Paul DeJoria and Martin Crowley.
DeJoria was already a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of Paul Mitchell Hair Systems, while Crowley was a creative designer with a deep interest in Mexican culture and craftsmanship.
During a business trip to Mexico, Crowley came across beautifully hand-crafted glass bottles made by local artisans. Inspired by their uniqueness, he returned home and shared his vision with DeJoria:
Let’s create a tequila as beautiful and refined as the bottle itself.
That idea led to the birth of The Patrón Spirits Company, a tequila brand that would redefine what premium meant in the spirits world.
The first 12,000 bottles of Patrón were hand-made at the Casa 7 Leguas Distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, one of the oldest tequila distilleries in the region. Each bottle sold for around $37, which was considered extremely high at the time. But the vision was clear: Patrón wasn’t just tequila; it was luxury in a bottle.
The Master Behind the Flavor: Francisco Alcaraz
While DeJoria and Crowley were the business minds behind Patrón, the soul of the tequila came from Francisco Alcaraz, the brand’s original Master Distiller.
Alcaraz perfected the recipe and production method that made Patrón famous worldwide. He combined traditional Mexican distillation techniques, such as slow-roasting Blue Weber Agave and small-batch copper pot distillin, with precise quality control that guaranteed consistency in every bottle.
His philosophy was simple:
Make it by hand, make it with heart.
Even after Patrón’s global expansion, Alcaraz personally oversaw each new product variation, including Patrón Silver, Reposado, Añejo, and Gran Patrón Platinum.
In 2020, he retired and passed the torch to his long-time protégé, David Rodríguez García, ensuring the brand’s legacy continued.
The Dan Aykroyd Myth: What Really Happened
A surprising rumor has circulated online for years: that actor Dan Aykroyd invented or owned Patrón. This confusion went viral when rapper Drake once mentioned it in an interview, saying he thought Aykroyd made Patrón.
However, this is not true.
According to Business Insider and Uproxx, Aykroyd never created or owned Patrón. What actually happened is that he helped import and distribute Patrón in Canada in the mid-2000s through his spirits company.
He’s known for his role with Crystal Head Vodka, not for founding Patrón.
So while Aykroyd helped sell Patrón in some regions, the invention and creation of the brand belong entirely to DeJoria, Crowley, and Alcaraz.
The Rise of a Luxury Tequila Empire
Patrón’s growth didn’t come from flashy ads; it came from word-of-mouth prestige. The brand was built around three pillars:
1. Craftsmanship
Every bottle is hand-blown, individually numbered, and inspected for perfection.
Each batch uses 100% Weber Blue Agave, harvested, baked, and distilled in small quantities to maintain its signature smoothness.
2. Luxury Branding
Patrón was marketed not as a drink, but as a lifestyle. It appeared in high-end clubs, celebrity parties, and countless rap lyrics, becoming a symbol of sophistication and success.
3. Cultural Authenticity
Even as it gained global fame, Patrón continued to maintain its deep Mexican roots. The brand continues to operate from Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, where the agave is grown and distilled by skilled local artisans.
In 2018, Patrón was acquired by Bacardi Limited for an estimated $5.1 billion, solidifying its position as one of the world’s most valuable spirits brands. See more: Dan Aykroyd Patron
The Legacy of Patrón
Who invented Patron? From a small distillery in Mexico to an international luxury icon, Patrón’s story is about more than just tequila.
It’s a story of vision, artistry, and integrity, proof that when quality and passion meet, the result becomes timeless.
| Key Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Invented / Founded By | John Paul DeJoria & Martin Crowley (1989) |
| Master Distiller | Francisco Alcaraz (Later succeeded by David Rodríguez García) |
| Origin | Jalisco, Mexico |
| Owned By | Bacardi Limited (Since 2018) |
| Famous For | 100% Blue Weber Agave, handcrafted bottles, premium positioning |
Final Thoughts
So, who invented Patron? The answer is clear; it wasn’t a Hollywood star or a celebrity endorsement. It was a partnership between creativity and craftsmanship, between DeJoria’s entrepreneurial vision, Crowley’s artistic inspiration, and Alcaraz’s mastery of tequila.