Fearing’s new Barrel Select Patrón Tequila will begin pouring on May 5, coinciding with the restaurant’s first-ever Cinco de Mayo party.

Fearing’s Barrel Select has a collaborative back-story, as Chef Dean Fearing and his team traveled to Patrón’s headquarters and to its premium blue agave fields in the hills of Jalisco, Mexico. Their mission was to work hand-in-hand with the brand’s Master Distiller to identify a single barrel of añejo tequila for use in Fearing’s new signature Barrel Select. The restaurant team worked directly alongside Patrón team members at their copper stills, where a labor-intensive process resulted in a personally-designed Fearing’s tequila aged for a full year in hybrid-wood barrels.

Fearing’s custom añejo tequila is smooth and slightly sweet, offering distinctive caramel and smoky notes. It will be delivered to the restaurant in 60 cases, with each bottle numbered by hand and crafted from beautiful recycled glass.

As part of its May 5 first-pour celebration, Fearing’s will introduce three new añejo cocktails created by Patron’s lead mixologist, Andres Ismael Moran Gutierrez – a renowned name in the tequila world and bartender for 400 Conejos mezcaleria in Guadalajara. Fearing’s will also use Patrón’s own Silver Tequila in that evening’s Dean’s Margaritas.

The Cinco de Mayo festivities will also include live mariachi music at Fearing’s Live Oak Bar, along with a special south-of-the-border bar menu of Brisket Empanadas with Poblano Mojo, Two-Bite Smoked Chicken Tacos with Avocado Relish and Patrón Shrimp Campeche Cocktails.