Food and beverage collaborations get people excited. It might be an expected combination or something that is totally out of the box. The one day only Popeyes and Don Julio collab is one that deserved more than just that fleeting moment.
On January 31 in a handful of cities, the Popeyes x Tequila Don Julio Championship Lineup menu featured a Popeyes x Tequila Don Julio Reposado Flavored Concha Chicken Sandwich, Popeyes x Tequila Don Julio Reposado Flavored Louisiana Garlic 3-Piece Wings with a specialty sauce and a Spicy Strawberry Hibiscus Flavored Lemonade Mocktail. All the offerings were bursting with flavor and easily scored a win with anyone who had the opportunity to enjoy them.
The idea of a quick service restaurant partnering with a popular liquor brand is smart. Long gone are the days when that drive-thru meal is served with a soda or maybe a beer. Elevating the experience has merit.
Looking at the first specialty dish, the idea of a Concha Chicken Sandwich is a thought provoking flavor combination. While many people love that brioche bun, the swap with the Mexican pastry opens the door to a bounty of possibilities. Unlike a doughnut, this pastry is not as cloying. It brings depth without venturing too far into the outlandish part.
Second, the use of a reposado tequila as a marinade is something that can be adopted by the home cook. Some people are over the pickle brine. Infusing a popular liquor into the mix is a good way to connect all the flavors on the table. Plus, the tequila slaw is a subtle way that showcase one ingredient in multiple ways. Versatility is key to creating layers of flavor.
Even though this idea was just a special event, it would be wonderful to see Popeyes and Don Julio expand on this partnership. Maybe someone could bottle that Spicy Strawberry Hibiscus Flavored Lemonade Mocktail.
Could the Popeyes and Don Julio partnership reemerge at Cinco de Mayo? Anyone who was lucky enough to get a taste should petition the food and beverage brands to bring it back, otra vez, por favor.