A new collaborative cocktail competition developed by Australian aperitif Rhubi and not-for-profit Mix Haus is bringing female and non-binary bartenders into the spotlight while raising funds for women in hospitality.
Building on the success of the inaugural #JustAddRHUBI cocktail competition held last year, Rhubi has joined forces with Mix Haus, a community-driven group for women in hospitality, calling on the industry’s women to curate their own Rhubi-based cocktails.
Putting a stronger focus on its mission, the cocktail competition hopes to raise the profile of Australia’s female bartending talent and drive positive cultural change in the industry.
Shirley Yeung, Mix Haus Co-founder and award-winning bartender, says: “It’s so crucial that brands support diversity in our industry. We have been working with Rhubi on this campaign since last year, and these kinds of initiatives are more important now than ever.
“We chose to work with Rhubi as it’s a female-run brand, and we’re excited to create this new platform to highlight the amazing and talented women in our industry. If we can do that alongside raising money for on-the-ground activity, then that ultimately achieves our goals.”
Entrants from across the country are tasked with designing their own cocktails using Rhubi, a rhubarb aperitif, as the main ingredient. Cocktails must be shared on social media and offered in-venue to qualify.
The first round of judging will be based on entry forms, with four finalists flown to Sydney to take part in an all-female bartender takeover at female-owned Burrow Bar, Sydney. The event, held on Monday 25 November, will determine the winner, who will take home $1000 cash, with all proceeds raised on the night donated to Mix Haus.
Bartender-founded and Australian-made, Linn Philips-Johansson, Rhubi’s Director, says a female-focus ethos is integral to the brand, which uses the heroic female figure La Semeuse on each bottle cap.
“We love seeing RHUBI’s versatility in cocktails, but this year we’re even more excited to use this platform to support women in hospitality and open up those dialogues about what it means to be female and working in this industry,” Philips-Johansson stated.
You can find out more about the competition and how to enter here.