HAMILTON, Bermuda, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bartenders around the world can elevate their skills through a new bartending web community, http://www.trueoriginals.com (TRUE ORIGINALS(TM)), created by BACARDI rum, the world's favorite and best-selling premium rum, as well as the world's most awarded rum.

True Originals has specifically been developed for bartenders to help them achieve the level of bartending status they aspire to, by providing information on the latest bartending trends, techniques, recipes and cocktail history. As a unique environment for users to learn from, contribute to and earn accolades through a series of virtual badges, it will unite bartenders worldwide. Bartenders can earn badges and work their way to becoming a 'True Original' bartender with a variety of career-related activities such as recruiting five colleagues to earn the 'Recruiter' badge, commenting on 20 or more entries to earn the 'Commentator' badge, or even earn the 'Thought Leader' badge by gaining 50+ followers or winning the weekly MixMaster Challenge to earn the 'Mix Master' badge.

Featuring spirits industry leaders, the site will include content such as cocktail-making demonstrations, advice and career inspiration, plus registered members can contribute by uploading their own content. Apart from the site itself, http://www.trueoriginals.com will fully integrate with other social media channels, including Facebook(TM) and Twitter(TM).

BACARDI Global Brand Director Christian Woolfenden comments, "Over the years we've seen a real thirst for knowledge from the bartending family all over the world, which is why we're launching http://www.trueoriginals.com/ this True Originals online community. We want to inspire them through engaging content and help them acquire new skills to reach their career goals. Whatever a bartender's level, from the world's best bartender to those aspiring to reach the top of their game, he or she can find useful information and inspiration on the site."

In recent years BACARDI released a series of videos about 'True Original' bartenders that showcased cocktail-making skills from the world's best bartenders. They were created to celebrate the unique skills that each bartender at the top of their game possesses and to start debate in the industry about what being 'the best' means. Each video is available among the array of content found on http://www.trueoriginals.com.

About True Originals

True Originals is an online community specifically developed for bartenders around the world as a resource to discern the latest trends, techniques, recipes and history within the drinks industry. The site aims to inspire each bartender to reach his/her career goals with information designed to elevate bartending skills to 'true original' status. Launched as a membership site, it aims to fill a gap in the industry for a worldwide drinks community dedicated to bartenders. http://www.trueoriginals.com

About BACARDI Rum - The World's Most Awarded Rum

In 1862, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, founder Don Facundo Bacardi Masso revolutionized the spirits industry when he created the world's first premium white rum - BACARDI. The unique taste of BACARDI Rum inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world's most famous cocktail recipes including the BACARDI Mojito, the BACARDI Daiquiri, the BACARDI Cuba Libre, the BACARDI Pina Colada and the BACARDI El Presidente. BACARDI Rum has won more than 400 awards for quality and product profile. Today, BACARDI Rum is made in Puerto Rico and Mexico where it is crafted to ensure the taste remains the same today as it did when it was first blended in 1862 in Santiago de Cuba.

http://www.BACARDI.com

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SOURCE True Originals