Beam Ropes in International Talent to Judge Beam Bar Legend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beam Ropes in International Talent to Judge Beam Bar Legend Final

Auckland, New Zealand, 4th October 2012 - Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM) has announced the line-up of judges for the biggest bartender competition in New Zealand history, the Beam Bar Legend.

International Galliano Brand Ambassador Ago Perrone, along with New Zealand comedian, Ben Hurley, Beam Marketing Director Rene Bros, Suntory cocktail and service specialist Nigel Weisbaum, and industry expert Chris Harrop, have all been hand picked to crown New Zealand’s first Beam Bar Legend.

Bros is confident that Beam has secured the right mix of judging talent to choose the bartender fit for the title.

“Over the two day final, we will find someone with the right mixture of personality and talent and I am looking forward to working with Ben and Chris to find this person.”

“We’re also stoked to have Ago and Nigel on board as guest judges. Their international knowledge will compliment the level of expertise on our judging panel,” says Bros.

Ago Peronne’s recipes regularly appear in international A-List publications such as The Times, Vogue and GQ and he has received various accolades including the Tales of the Cocktail ‘World’s Best Bartender’ award in 2010.

London born and bred Nigel Weisbaum is a pioneer in the Mobile Cocktail Bar Industry. After much success in the UK, he made the move to Australia, working with Suntory (who own the Midori brand) Australia, to become one of the top 50 most respected and influential people in the bartending and hospitality industry.

Ben Hurley who was selected to judge the performance and personality of each contestant is one of New Zealand’s most recognisable comedians. His regular appearances on TV3’s 7 Days and success at the annual New Zealand International Comedy Festival have made him a household name.

Chris Harrop is no stranger to bartending competitions, having won the NZ Bartender Magazine ‘Bartender of the Year’ award in 2008. He also helped the New Zealand team finish second at the 42Below Cocktail World Cup in 2007.

The grand final is set to take place over two days on the 7th and 8th October. The eight finalists, announced last week, competed in preliminary rounds and have been narrowed down from a field of 370 entrants. The winner will walk away with a prize pack valued at over $25,000.

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

- ENDS -

Notes to the Editor:

1. The grand finalists will have an all expenses paid trip to Auckland to compete for the prize pack, valued over $25,000.

2. There will be three judges for the grand final plus some guest judges for particular components of the final competition. The judging panel will be confirmed closer to the date of the grand final.

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

4. The grand final will be held in Auckland at Studio, 340 Karangahape Road on Monday 8th October from 6pm onwards. The grand final is an invite only event. Please let your media contacts know if you are interested in attending the event.

5. Please contact Eleven PR for access to the top eight finalists

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

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