I got an e-mail inviting me to the Patron Secret Dining Society dinner in Rhode Island yesterday. Loving Patron tequilas, I signed on.

The idea for the Patron Social Club was dreamed up in the Patron offices in NY over the winter: To have fabulous dinners with the best chefs and mixologists pairing food and wine. They would be in places like Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas and Rhode Island. Patron fans would sign on to a website and register for one of the dinners.The Dallas dinner was held in a warehouse; Washington's, at the Finnish Embassy, and Charlotte's, in a restaurant. But Patron outdid itself in Rhode Island where an afternoon brunch was held on a yacht in Newport Harbor.

On Friday, I was instructed to show up in front of the Newport Public Library between noon and 12:15. Then I was to text the word ANEJO, an aged style of tequila. A reply text told me to look across the street where a "seafaring man" was waiting with a clue. He stood in front of St. Claire's Convent. He handed me a book, "On Mysticism," by Jorge Luis Borges, with a map inside sending me to the Ann Street Pier. There a launch awaited which took me to The Arabella, a three-masted, 160-foot yacht in the harbor. Yes, they had me with the first cocktail and shrimp appetizer.

The secret society included 18 diners who came from around New England, a musician, and the cuisine of Jules Ramos (of Eleven Forty Nine and Eleven Forty Nine East) and mixologist Jerri Banks (she created the cocktail menu at Fluke) and bartender Jesse Hedberg.

The idea was to show all of us how to get beyond the simple margarita and reveal how very versatile Patron's tequilas are for pairing with food.

Ramos' menu was a twist on brunch with scallops wrapped not in bacon but in smoked salmon and topped with a poached egg and paired with tasso ham hash. He turned melon and prosciutto into a dish inspired by Spain with Serrano ham, Manchego cheese and fabulous fresh figs and local Little Compton honey. My favorite two courses were the French toast with house-made blueberry preserves (from local berries) with duck and foie gras mousse, and dessert, a coffee and cardamon pot de creme with Mexican cinnamon-dusted doughnuts.

Banks' tequila drinks were all equally inspired. They had floral notes, fresh fruit juices and garnishes such as jalapeno or rose geraniums.

The Bramblin Rose had Patron Reposado, blackberries, rosebud tea, lemon, honey, sparking wine and those rose geraniums from Banks' yard. It went with the Serrano ham dish.

The Celedonis was made with Patron Anejo, fresh cucumber, honeydew melon, lime juices, agave nectar and fresh dill on top.

The Tomotango was a better Bloody Mary with Patron Anejo, sangrita (a mix made with fresh tomatoes and other juices), heat from chilies, and a rim of black lava salt. It was paired with the scallops.

With dessert was a perfect drink of Patron XO Cafe (a liqueur) with Banks' own chocolate syrup, cinnamon and chili, and salted coconut milk foam.

Banks started with a Liquid Sunray, which included both Patron Silver and anejo plus fresh lime juice and seltzer with agave nectar and garnishes of jalapenos and grilled pineapple.

The guests were all fun; the Patron folks engaging; the weather rainy until the end but the harbor was still beautiful. This creative event is something worth signing on for at Patron's website.