Moskovskaya Vodka launches UK cocktail comp

SPI Spirits is aiming to push on-trade interest in its Moskovskaya Vodka brand by launching a cocktail competition for bartenders in the UK.

Moskovskaya Vodka has launched a cocktail competition for UK bartenders

Run by the brand’s UK distributer Hi-Spirits, the competition invites bartenders to create their own signature serve using Moskovskaya Vodka.

“We are now targeting significant expansion of Moskovskaya in the on-trade, raising awareness of the brand and its heritage, and focusing on operators who appreciate the fact that you won’t find a more authentic vodka offering such good value,” said Dan Bolton, managing director of Hi-Spirits.

“Moskovskaya is a brand that perfectly bridges the gap between premium and mainstream pubs and bars. It works best in venues which generate genuine excitement about interesting brands and where there’s bartender advocacy for interesting serves.

Bartenders who want to participate have been given a brief to create a serve that references a fact about the vodka – which was originally distilled in Moscow and now made in Latvia.

Three winners will be rewarded with trips to the Moscow Bar Show in September this year.

As part of this recent marketing push, Moskovskaya has created a signature cocktail serve – the Moskovite – which has been adopted as the house cocktail of London venue The Lexington.