Svedka Vodka challenges bartenders nationwide to compete in the first annual Svedka Shakedown in Miami Beach

Svedka Vodka, one of the most popular imported vodkas in the U.S., is searching for the country’s best “power mixers” to compete in the first annual “Svedka Shakedown,” a one night only event in which five bartenders will endure three fast-paced rounds of mixology challenges (think impossible ingredients). The fight to win $5,000 is set for Monday, August 11 from 7 – 10 p.m. at Cecconi’s Miami Beach at Soho Beach House.

After the deadline for submissions passed on Monday, July 21, a panel of judges reviewed each applicant. TheFive  selections are based on the bartender’s professional experience, personal characterisitcs, and the quality of the original recipe he/she turns in to chilledmagazine.com/svedkashakedown. Judges include three bartenders, Miami native Ben Potts, Jason Littrell, Ezra Pattek, as well as TV personality Alexandra Olavarria, this writer, and Vicky Aros, Brand Director for Svedka Vodka at Constellation Brands.

Svedka’s name is inspired by the Swedish word “Svenska,” which means, well, “Swedish,” followed by “vodka.”

Competitiors:

Leo Holtzman of Cocktail Collection

Oxana Parfenova of Blackbird Ordinary

Cameron Scholderer of Zuma

Randal Perez of The Broken Shaker

Trevor Alberts of Orange Blossom

This story was originally published July 16, 2014 at 12:07 AM.