Hats Off to the Races for the 7th Year Running

CORAL GABLES, Fla., May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GREY GOOSE® Vodka joins forces with renowned milliner Louise Green to create a one-of-a-kind hat to be worn on Saturday, May 7, 2011, at Churchill Downs.  This year will mark the seventh consecutive year of the brand’s tradition at the famous race.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110504/NY93587 )

Actress and producer Paula Patton will don the custom creation at this year’s event. Recently named one of People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful People 2011,” Patton is well known for her role as Blu Rain in the critically acclaimed film, “Precious” (2009). Set to appear in the new “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” Patton can also be seen in “Jumping the Broom,” which hits theaters Derby weekend.

The star, along with designer Louise Green, will autograph the GREY GOOSE inspired hat for online-auction through charitybuzz (www.charitybuzz.com). Bidding for the custom design will begin May 4 and run through May 17, with one hundred percent of the proceeds benefitting The Barnstable-Brown Foundation in support of diabetes research.

“This event is among the most glamorous and exciting days both in thoroughbred racing and the world of sports,” commented Shane M. Graber, VP and Managing Director of GREY GOOSE Vodka. “We’re thrilled to have Paula Patton join in our GREY GOOSE tradition.  She is a wonderful talent who shares our passion in raising awareness to The Barnstable-Brown Foundation.  As in years past, this year’s hat designed by Louise Green is a tribute to their remarkable efforts.”

“I’m so honored to attend the Derby and to wear the one-of-a-kind GREY GOOSE designer hat in support of such a worthy cause,” remarked Patton.

Critically acclaimed millinery designer Louise Green is equally excited to bring her expertise and inspired approach to the creation of the GREY GOOSE hat to benefit diabetes research. “We’ve created a stunning millinery confection that reflects the refinement of GREY GOOSE and will suit Paula perfectly,” she commented.

Past celebrity partners include Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Petra Nemcova, Zoe Saldana and Molly Sims, who attended the race wearing GREY GOOSE designs by Eric Javits; Brooke Shields in Rachel Roy; and Rebecca Romijn wearing Ellen Christine.

In addition to the auction of the designer hat, GREY GOOSE has created the L’Orange Thoroughbred cocktail in celebration of Breeders’ Cup festivities and in honor of the prestigious race.

Add first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.  Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat.  Strain into two rocks glasses filled with crushed ice; pour CHAMBORD so that it floats on top of the drink.  Garnish with rose petals.

Southern Sweet Iced Tea Recipe

Use five tea bags for one quart of boiling water.  Steep for ten minutes and add one cup of sugar while tea bags are steeping. Stir to dissolve. Place in refrigerator to cool.

GREY GOOSE® VODKA AND FLAVORED VODKAS

Every aspect of the creation of GREY GOOSE® is focused on crafting the World's Best Tasting Vodka. The creation of GREY GOOSE begins with the very best ingredients from France, soft winter wheat from le grenier a ble (the breadbasket of France) and spring water from Gensac that is naturally filtered through Grande Champagne limestone. Then a unique distillation process brings out the naturally superior characteristics of these ingredients. From field to bottle, the expertise of the Maitre de Chai (Cellar Master) ensures an unparalleled smoothness and exceptional taste. The GREY GOOSE portfolio is comprised of GREY GOOSE Vodka, GREY GOOSE La Poire, GREY GOOSE L'Orange and GREY GOOSE Le Citron flavored vodkas. Over the past 10 years GREY GOOSE Vodka has helped charities to raise over $1 billion dollars.

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  BACARDI®   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 number-one selling blended Scotch whisky in the United States;   BOMBAY   SAPPHIRE®   gin,   the   top-valued  and fastest-growing premium  gin  in  the world; CAZADORES® 100 percent blue agave tequila, the number-one  premium  tequila in Mexico and a top-selling premium tequila in the  United  States;  MARTINI®  vermouth,  the  world-leader  in  vermouth; and  other  leading and emerging brands.  For additional information, visit www.bacardiusa.com.

About Louise Green

Since 1987, Louise Green Millinery has created romantic and beautiful, vintage inspired designs that have crowned stylish women, music and movie stars.  British born and raised, Louise studied fine arts in her university education.  Less formally, the streets and people of London instilled a fascination for the richness of the past and a passion for ornamentation and color.  Since its inception, Louise Green Millinery has grown from serving an elite West Los Angeles clientele to include many of the finer boutiques and department stores across the United States and around the world.  Louise Green hats are also consistently featured in top fashion magazines and on the heads of some of music and movies brightest stars.  At the 9,000 square foot factory in the heart of West Los Angeles, California, Louise Green currently operates one of the most successful high-end millinery companies in the United States.  Louise Green has won Millinery Designer Of The Year three times.

About Breeders' Cup

The Breeders' Cup administers the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing's year-end Championships.  The Breeders' Cup also administers the Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. Total purses for this year's two-day event at Churchill Downs, Nov. 4-5, are $26 million. The 2010 Breeders' Cup delivered nearly $140 million in winning wagers to fans at betting locations around the globe. Breeders' Cup press releases appear on the Breeders' Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders' Cup on social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About The Barnstable-Brown Foundation

The Barnstable Brown Gala, the Kentucky Derby's premiere celebrity derby event, is thrown on Derby Eve by Patricia Barnstable Brown and Priscilla Barnstable, former Doublemint Twins. For over twenty-years, the biggest names in music, movies, and sports have attended the Gala, held at Patricia's Louisville, KY, mansion. The party has been featured in People Magazine, Us Weekly, and the Wall Street Journal, as well as on Entertainment Tonight, The Tonight Show, and The Girls Next Door, and was named one of the ten best parties in the world by Conde Nast Gold Traveler. In addition, the Gala, which benefits diabetes research at the Barnstable Brown Center for Diabetes and Obesity Research at the University of Kentucky, has raised over $10 million dollars for charity.

SOURCE GREY GOOSE(R) Vodka