Russian Standard seeks a second Master of the Mule

For the second year running, Russian Standard is on the hunt  to find the UK’s best undiscovered bartender talent. The challenge – to create a new twist on the Russian Mule, the signature serve of the Russian premium vodka. Bartenders will compete in a series of challenges testing skill and creativity, culminating in a grand final on September 30th at London’s Tobacco Dock. Selected by a panel of high profile industry figures, one entrant will be crowned Master Of The Mule 2015 and win an all expenses paid trip to St Petersburg including a visit to the Russian Standard Vodka distillery. Bartenders can now enter Masters Of The Mule 2015 by submitting a video of their own Russian Mule. Entry closes 7th June.

Launched last year, Masters Of The Mule is a multi-stage competition curated by Russian Standard Vodka, to invite the UK’s most talented bartenders to showcase their cocktail mixing skills and award them with the highly coveted accolade, Masters Of The Mule.

Entry is now open for the second year edition of the competition. Using any Russian Standard Vodka and a form of ginger as the core ingredients, entrants must create their own unique take on the Russian Mule, Russian Standard’s signature serve 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, name, bar name and contact details by June 7th.

A judging panel will handpick eight finalists based on finesse, fun and flavours, who will automatically be entered into the Masters Of The Mule final on September 30th. The remaining top 42 entries will be put online  on June 19th, where members of the public can select two more finalists as Imbibes Peoples Choice, to take part in the grand finale. The lucky two will be revealed on August 19th.

The final ten contestants will compete in a series of challenges at the final at Tobacco Dock, London. In stage one, bartenders will create the best tasting and most innovative cocktail from randomly selected ingredients in front of a blind judging panel and hundreds of 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 treated to an all-expenses paid trip to St. Petersburg, the home and inspiration of Russian Standard Vodka, including a visit to the Russian Standard Vodka distillery.

2014’s Masters Of The Mule was a close competition, with hundreds of entries whittled down to a final ten for the final on the Silver Sturgeon Yacht on the Thames. Alex O’Brien from Lola Jeans in Tynemouth pipped some incredibly talented finalists to the top spot thanks to his dry and refreshing Bohemian Mule, made from absinthe, sake, Russian Standard Platinum and ginger, garnished with a paintbrush. Following the success of last year’s event, the competition this year will move to the bigger venue of Tobbaco Dock in London.

Russian Standard Vodka is working with agency Full Fat on the campaign.