Second Annual Absolut Vodka Professional Mixology Challenge Kick Off
Absolut Vodka presents the second annual professional mixology competition, and UP’s Editorial and Creative Director, Rand Pearson, is one of the judges at today’s challenge (Sankara Hotel).
There’s no question that Absolut Vodka is leading with it’s creative approach to advertising and of course it’s wonderful array of flavors. This competition seeks to unearth Nairobi’s top professional mixologist and is all about rewarding creativity; a dominant ABSOLUT Vodka flavour, an interesting name and a story behind each cocktail created. The story and visualization of the cocktail being what gains the mixologist entry to the competition.
Marketing Manager at Pernod Ricard, Wanjiru Njenga, noted: “The challenge is all about creativity; a dynamic personality, an eye for the obscure, a finger on the pulse of trends and ultimately bringing ABSOLUT Vodka to life.” She further highlighted, “ABSOLUT Vodka is associated in the world over with artistry in mixology as well as being an innovator in the cocktail industry. We want to share this passion here and use it as a platform to reward the skills within the industry and to raise the standards.”
This year, the competition has been zoned into three categories:
- Hotels Heat: 22nd October 2013, Sankara Nairobi
- Ngong Road Heat: 5th November 2013, Sierra Brasserie
- Westlands and Town Heat: 19th November 2013, Galileo Lounge
Winners from each heat will head to the Grand Finale, which will be hosted at Mercury Lounge Westlands on December 10th 2013. This year’s winner will receive:
- A cash prize of KES 100,000 as well as a fully paid trip to train with the best at the ABSOLUTVodka headquarters in Sweden.
- The runner up and third place will receive a cash prize of Ksh50, 000 and 25,000 respectively.
In an interesting twist this year, derived from ‘DrinksInspiration’, a website designed to inform and educate the public on the art of mixology and home bartending, ABSOLUT Vodka will host a media cocktail challenge at the Grand Finale. Media personalities will be invited to battle it out by creating their own favorite ABSOLUT cocktail for a grand prize.
The ABSOLUT Vodka Mixology Challenge is the brainchild of Aqueous Concept’s MD and the ABSOLUT Vodka Brand Ambassador, Brian Owango. For him, the desire to create a competition of this calibre came about from the need to make Kenyan bartenders feel confident that their individuality and passion for product, is sought after and rewarded by a premium brand such as ABSOLUT. “Our desire is for the talented set to respect the old, embrace the new and put Kenya on the discerning drinkers map,” he emphasized.
