The contest took place aboard the Silver Sturgeon Yacht on the river Thames in London and saw ten UK finalists compete. Bartenders had entered the competition by creating their own Moscow Mule recipes.
The first round of the final saw bartenders create a cocktail from a liqueur, Russian Standard and a host of additional back-bar ingredients in front of a panel of blindfolded judges.
The panel included Russian Standard brand ambassador Tatiana Petrakova and Imbibe’s Laura Foster.
Winner O’Brien impressed judges with his combination of Russian Standard vodka Platinum, Gancia Bianco Vermouth, orange & Angostura bitters, lemon and orange twist and Limoncello.
In the main event the Russian Mule challenge, O’Brien’s Bohemian Mule scored top marks. It was made from absinthe, sake, Russian Standard Platinum, ginger and garnished with a paintbrush.
Laura Foster said: “It was a big, bold event with a lot of fun bartenders producing a wide variety of interesting drinks. The level of creativity displayed by the competitors when it came to their Russian Mule twists was impressive.
"Alex was a worthy winner, displaying skill, excellent knowledge of Russian Standard, and excellent hosting skills on top of the high quality of his drinks.”
O’Brien will be taken on an all-expenses paid three-day trip to St Petersburg, the home of Russian Standard, and invited to bartend at Davai Milano in Milan, the brand's flagship molecular mixology bar.
