Russian Standard vodka bartender competition open for entries

Entries are now open for the Masters of the Mule, which challenges bartenders to create their own cocktail using any Russian Standard vodka and a form of ginger as the core ingredients.

The brand’s own signature cocktail, the Russian Mule, is made from Russian Standard Original, ginger beer and lime.

Entrants will need to submit a video of themselves creating their Russian Mule along with a list of ingredients, plus their name, bar name and contact details to ehffvnazhyr@vzovor.pbz​ by 7 June.

A judging panel will hand-pick eight finalists based on ‘finesse, fun and flavours’.

The remaining top 42 entries will be put online on Imbibe.com on 19 June, where members of the public can select two more finalists as ‘Imbibe’s Peoples Choice’, to take part in the final. Those two will be revealed on 19 August.

Tobacco Dock​

The final 10 will compete in a series of challenges at the Tobacco Dock, in London, on 30 September.

In stage one, bartenders will create a cocktail from randomly selected ingredients in front of a blind-judging panel and industry spectators.

Entrants will then make and present their Russian Mule creations in stage two, before judges convene and decide on who will be crowned Master Of The Mule 2015.

The winner will be given to an all-expenses paid trip to St Petersburg, the home of Russian Standard. The trip will include a visit to the Russian Standard vodka distillery.

2014 winner​

Last year’s competition was won by Alex O’Brien, from Lola Jeans in Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear.

O’Brien’s cocktail, Bohemian Mule, was made with absinthe, sake, Russian Standard Platinum and ginger. It was garnished with a paintbrush.