Over 200 bartenders across the country aligned themselves to put together delectable cocktails made with Beluga and learn global tricks about bartending.

SULA SELECTIONS, the import arm of Sula Vineyards associated with Beluga Noble Russian Vodka, a globally known vodka brand, to launch their new IP in August 2018 - ‘Beluga Cocktail Masters India 2018’. In a bid to provide bartenders with an international experience, Sula commenced their three-city Masterclass in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore conducted by Agostino Schiavo, the head bartender at the Arts Club in London.

Over 200 bartenders across the country aligned themselves to put together delectable cocktails made with Beluga and learn global tricks about bartending. From over 50 bartenders per city, 20 were selected to promote Beluga in a personal capacity and using their social media platforms, from which the top ten cocktails were selected for the final round.

The finale commenced with contestants participating in a black-tie cocktail competition whereby the finalists prepared a unique Beluga cocktail. Due with this round, five mixologists were selected for the final challenge in which a mysterious black box was presented to each contestant that included various unique ingredients like Dry Vermouth, Balsamic Vinegar, Rosso Vermouth, Star Anise, Rosemary, Apricot Marmalade, aimed at making the task even more challenging. At the finale round of the event held on October 25, Adamo Balsamo representing CinCin was announced as the title winner of the Beluga Cocktail Master India 2018. As part of the prize Adamo Balsamo wins a trip to Moscow.

For the first round, Adamo Balsamo prepared ‘Moscow in a beach’ - a combination of Beluga Noble Vodka, Sula Riesling, Pink Grapefruit, Lemon and Grenadine. The judges termed it an ideal summer beverage. In the black box challenge, the ingredients present in Adamo’s black box were fresh limes, fresh cucumber, fresh rosemary, mint leaves, pineapple juice, white vinegar, coconut milk, rose sweet vermouth, calvados and seasonal berries, using which Adamo coupled his instincts and talent to create a unique cocktail on the spot and emerged as the winner of Beluga Cocktail Masters India 2018.

The judges’ panel comprised of Shatbhi Basu, India’s first-ever female bartender. Shatbhi apart from being a bartender is a beverage consultant, an author, and head of a bartending academy and American Whiskey Ambassador for India. Rojita Tiwari who is an independent writer, trainer, and consultant in the fields of wine & spirits, travel & hospitality was another judge. She is a WSET Level 3 certified professional and listed twice (2013 and 2015) as one of the Top ten women of wine in India by the Indian Wine Academy and possesses over 14 years of work experience. The third and final judge on the panel was Pankaj Kamble who holds a Guinness World Record Title in Flair Bartending. He is also a beverage consultant, a LIMCA Book Record Holder and has represented India at various competitions.

Overjoyed with the achievement, Balsamo who is an Italy-born, said, ‘It had been six months in India and I wanted to make an impact. My friend from Yautacha insisted that I must participate in this competition, upon his advice I started preparing for the competition a month in advance. I was very happy to attend the master class where I received my first fish badge, that's when my interest began to develop more in the competition. When the black box arrived before me, I thought that was the end of the journey for me. Coconut milk was an ingredient that changed the game for me, I always wanted to make a drink with coconut milk.

”Ken Pritchard, Senior Vice President, Marketing and International Sales, Sula Vineyards said, “We are delighted to have hosted Beluga Masters India 2018. The finale witnessed the crème de la crème of India’s mixologists who competed to win the title of Beluga Cocktail Master India 2018! Beluga vodka represents the pinnacle of the vodka maker’s craft and our finale will showcase the pinnacle of Indian mixology - what a great partnership!”