BACARDÍ® Flavored Rum Signs On as Official Sponsor of Entertainers Basketball Classic Streetball Tournaments

CORAL GABLES, Fla., July 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- BACARDÍ^® rum, the world's best-selling and most awarded rum, announces its sponsorship of the world's premier street basketball league, Entertainers Basketball Classic (EBC). The popular streetball league is based at Rucker Park in Harlem, New York, a court that has played host to some of the most significant players in basketball history. This summer, BACARDÍ Flavored Rum brings "Flavor at the Rucker" to the park, inspiring players, fans and streetball enthusiasts everywhere to take it to the next level.

Each week, BACARDÍ Flavored Rum celebrates the intense flavor of street basketball and the elements that make up the best of modern basketball culture: music, tattoos, sneakers and cocktails. Tonight, Brooklyn based rapper Troy Ave will host Flavor at the Rucker with real-time commentary, a half-time performance, and a one-of-a-kind custom sneaker giveaway. Troy Ave is the first of three celebrity guest appearances by game-changing hip hop stars this summer, followed by Red Café on July 31 and The Breakfast Club on August 7.

"BACARDÍ rum created the flavored rum category when it launched BACARDÍ Limon in 1995 and has continued to innovate, bringing next level flavors to our consumers," said Arvind Krishnan, vice president and brand managing director, rum category, at Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. "As we looked for a platform to bring our celebration of modern basketball culture to life, we saw a shared pioneering spirit in EBC. Together, we'll bring real flavor to the game for an unforgettable experience this summer, both on and off the court."

The final EBC games, sponsored by BACARDÍ Flavored Rum, will take place for the very first time in South Beach in BACARDÍ rum's South Florida backyard.  The EBC South Beach Invitational, to be held August 15-17, will showcase the best talent in basketball from cities across the country including teams from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington DC. The can't-miss weekend experience will highlight streetball culture on and off the court, featuring an epic exhibit from Sneaker Pimps, world class DJs and hip-hop artists including Pusha T and the best flavors in the game – BACARDÍ Flavored Rums.

Select BACARDÍ Flavored Rum Cocktails to enjoy:  

High-Top:
1 part BACARDÍ^® Pineapple Fusion^TM
3 parts pineapple juice 
Pour ingredients over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Crossover:
2 parts BACARDÍ^® Coconut
4 parts pineapple juice 
Pour ingredients over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a pineapple wedge

Half-Time:
1 part BACARDÍ^® Limón
3 part lemonade
Pour ingredients over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Sneakerhead:
1 part BACARDÍ^® Mango Fusion^TM
2 parts Angostura bitters  
3 parts ginger beer
Pour ingredients over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Give and Go:
1 part BACARDÍ^® Dragon Berry
3 parts ginger ale
Pour ingredients over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

About BACARDÍ Rums 
In 1862, BACARDÍ revolutionized the spirits industry when founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó began producing his remarkable light-bodied, smooth rum. The unique taste of BACARDÍ inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world's most famous drink recipes including the Mojito, the Daiquirí, the Cuba Libre, the Piña Colada, and the Presidente.  BACARDÍ Superior rum has won more than 550 awards for quality and taste making it the world's most awarded rum.  Today, BACARDÍ is produced in Puerto Rico, following the production legacy set forth by Don Facundo Bacardi Massó – crafted in a five step distillation process, mellowed in American white oak barrels, and filtered five times for unparalleled quality and smoothness.  http://www.Bacardi.com

About Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. 
Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. is the United States import and distribution arm of one of the world's leading spirits and wine producers. The company boasts a portfolio of some of the most recognized and top-selling spirits brands in the United States including BACARDÍ® Superior rum, the world's favorite and best-selling premium rum, as well as the world's most awarded rum ; GREY GOOSE® vodka, the world-leader in super-premium vodka; DEWAR'S® Blended Scotch whisky,  the world's most awarded blended Scotch whisky and the number-one selling blended Scotch whisky in the United States; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, the top-valued and fastest-growing premium gin in the world; MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, the world's leading vermouth and the world's favorite Italian sparkling wines; CAZADORES® 100 percent blue agave tequila, one of the most popular premium tequilas in Mexico and the United States; and other leading and emerging brands. For additional information, visit http://www.bacardiusa.com.

About The EBC
The Entertainers Basketball Classic was founded by Greg Marius in 1982 in Harlem, NY and is one of the most recognizable streetball tournaments in the world. The EBC Tournament features a Men's and Women's division, as well as AAU Youth divisions.  The Men's division is one of only a few tournaments in New York to be sanctioned by the NBA and the NCAA.  The EBC has played host to a lineup of A-list celebrities, athletes and politicians, including former President Bill Clinton, former NBA Commissioner David Stern, Denzel Washington, Beyoncé, Lebron James, David Duchovny, Michael Rappaport and music superstars who have been EBC team owners or celebrity coaches such as Jay-Z, Mary J.Blige, Alicia Keys, P.Diddy, Fat Joe, and Jermaine Dupri, among others.  Throughout the years the tournament has attracted fans from all over the world and included more than 30 NBA professionals who have played in the EBC tournament such as Kevin Durant, David Lee, Kyrie Irving, Tyreke Evans, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, Baron Davis, Vince Carter, Kenyon Martin, Ron Artest, and more. 

Press Contacts:
BACARDI®
Jennifer Mestayer
Zeno Group
212-299-8976 / [email protected]

THE EBC
Simone Smalls 
Simone Smalls PR, Inc,
917-388-3890 / [email protected]  

LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

@2014. BACARDÍ AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDI & COMPANY LIMITED.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140709/125729

SOURCE BACARDI