Best bartenders in the country selected

Best bartenders in the country selected

Auckland, 3 September 2012 – Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM) a leading global premium spirits company, today announced the semi-finalists to the biggest bartender competition in New Zealand history – the Beam Bar Legend.

From the 370 bartenders who entered, 200 bartenders were asked to answer an online bar exam testing their general bar skills, bar etiquette and Beam portfolio knowledge, and just 30 talented entrants have made it through to the semi finals.

Beam (NZ) Marketing Director, Rene Bros, said it was difficult to select the semi-finalists, given the high calibre of submissions.

“It was very challenging picking 30 people from 200 very talented bartenders,” he said.

“Clearly, there are more than 30 bartenders in New Zealand who have charisma, and have the ability to create a fantastic work place atmosphere. It was the special, rare qualities that set the semi-finalists apart from the rest,” he added.

Auckland (10), Wellington (5), Queenstown (3), and Dunedin (3), contestants dominate the semi-finals list with other representatives included from Havelock North (2), Palmerston North (2), Northland, Tauranga, Rotorua, Nelson and Christchurch.

Over the next two weeks, Beam (NZ) will travel to Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown to meet the 30 semi-finalists where they will be filmed being interviewed by the Beam Brand Ambassador. In addition to the interview, bartenders will be asked to create their interpretation of the ultimate Jim Beam and Cola using one of the Jim Beam branded bourbons.

Following the interviews, Beam (NZ) will select and invite eight bartenders to participate in the grand final in Auckland on October 7th and 8th where through a series of challenges they will be given the chance to prove themselves, and be crowned New Zealand’s very first Beam Bar Legend. The winner will also walking away with a prize pack valued at over $25,000.

The prize pack includes an all expenses paid trip to a Beam distillery of their choice (Kentucky, Canada, Caribbean, France, Scotland), an expense card valued at up to $10,000 ($200 per week) and a $5,000 party for their bar.

Beam (NZ) will visit three regions based on the selected entrants. The selected semi-finalists will be required to attend at their own expense.

There will be three judges for the grand finals plus some guest judges for particular components of the final competition. The judging panel will be confirmed closer to the announcement of the semi-finalists.

The expense card will be credited with $200 every week for 52 weeks.

About Beam Inc.
As one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, Beam Inc. is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher's Scotch Whisky, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, EFFEN Vodka, Pucker Flavored Vodka, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC, DeKuyper Cordials, and Skinnygirl Cocktails. Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,200 passionate associates worldwide generated 2011 sales of $2.8 billion, volume of 34 million 9-liter cases and some of the industry’s fastest growing innovations. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index. For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com

ENDS

© Scoop Media