Stoli® Vodka Serves Pride for the Seventh Annual LGBTQ+ Key West Cocktail Classic
The world's largest annual LGBTQ+ bartending celebration honors the legacy of gay bars as the original LGBTQ+ community centers and celebrates the faces behind each pour
NEW YORK, March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stoli® Vodka announced today the widely anticipated return of its Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic for the seventh year in partnership with the City of Key West and the Key West Business Guild. Bartenders and LGBTQ+ allies across the country will come together to compete in a cocktail competition to win a variety of prizes including $15,000 for a hometown charity of the winner's choice, a dream vacation to anywhere in the world, arranged by HE Travel, and the coveted title of the 2020 SKWCC Champion. All monetary, charity donations and travel prizes to be provided courtesy of the KWBG.
Stoli Vodka’s Key West Cocktail Classic returns this year for its seventh competition celebrating gay bars as the original safe spaces and community centers for the LGBTQ+ community. Learn more at OUT.com/keywestcocktailclassic.
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Contestants, judges and spectators convened during last year’s finale in Key West during Pride Week. This year, Stoli is introducing for the first time a WILD CARD campaign presented by OUT.com, which opens the competition up to bartenders nationwide. Bartenders can apply by video submission for a chance to represent a yet undecided 14th city at the June finale. Further details on how to enter will be available at OUT.com/keywestcocktailclassic.
The Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic competition will travel to 14 cities, including the Pride Week finale in Key West. Entry to all events will be free with RSVP and open to Stoli fans of legal drinking age. To RSVP to attend visit OUT.com, and to register for a chance to compete visit OUT.com/keywestbartenders.
2019 Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic Winner Sam Benedict celebrates with trophy in hand during last year’s Key West Pride Week.
"The Key West Business Guild along with the City of Key West and our vibrant LGBTQ+ community will roll out the rainbow carpet during Key West's 2020 Pride Week Celebration, June 1 – 8, to welcome the 7th Annual SKWCC. The KWBG is extremely grateful for the continued support Stoli provides to our local charities and the LGBTQ+ community, locally, nationally and worldwide," said Chuck Licis, Board President Key West Business Guild.
The theme for this year's SKWCC is "The Stolimpics," and will feature "Stolimpians" ages 21+ who will be tasked with creating exceptional cocktails inspired by the people, places and things that make their hometown worthy of a gold medal. The competition will travel to 14 cities across the country where one winner from each city will receive an eight-day trip to compete in the SKWCC at the Key West Pride Week Finale June 1-8, courtesy of the KWBG.
"For more than 35 years, Stoli has celebrated gay bars as the original safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to championing these community centers and the individuals who are central to advancing them," said Patrik Gallineaux, Stoli Vodka National LGBTQ+ Ambassador and Manager. "I am thrilled to report that through this initiative, Stoli has had the opportunity to positively impact LGBTQ+ supportive non-profits across North America, with more than $120,000 awarded to LGBTQ+ charities to date."
Kicking off in Dallas, TX on March 4, the competition will travel to 14 cities including, Philadelphia, San Diego, Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans, Cleveland, Boston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington, D.C, and the Pride Week finale in Key West. Entry to all events will be free with RSVP and open to Stoli fans of legal drinking age. To RSVP to attend visit OUT.com, and to register for a chance to compete visit OUT.com/keywestbartenders.
"The Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. It is wonderful to be part of a program like this that celebrates our heritage while creating a powerful platform to empower us to celebrate, educate and make positive change for the future," said Sam Benedict, 2019 SKWCC Champion.
Extending the competition's spirit of inclusivity, Stoli is introducing for the first time in 2020 a WILD CARD campaign presented by OUT.com, which opens the competition up to bartenders nationwide. Bartenders can apply by video submission for a chance to represent a yet undecided 14th city at the June finale. Further details on how to enter will be available at OUT.com/keywestcocktailclassic.
Learn more about the SKWCC including how to apply, competition rules, guidelines and past winning cocktail recipes by visiting OUT.com/keywestcocktailclassic, and follow along on facebook.com/stolikeywest or on Instagram using the hashtags #stolipride, #stoliserves and #stolimpics.
Stoli serves much more than vodka. Stoli Serves Pride.
About Stoli® Group USA, LLC Stoli Group USA, LLC is a U.S. importer and marketer of alcoholic beverages, headquartered in New York City. Formed in 2013, Stoli Group USA is a subsidiary of SPI Group, based in Luxembourg, one of the world's most dynamic wine and spirits organizations. In addition to its namesake Stoli® Vodka, the Stoli Group portfolio includes a range of award-winning premium flavored vodkas, ultra-luxury elit® Vodka, Villa One™ Tequila, Kentucky Owl® Bourbon and Rye, Cenote™ Tequila, Bayou® Rum, Gator Bite™ flavored rum liqueur, Se Busca Mezcal,Loch Lomond, Glen Scotia and Little Mill Scotch Whiskies, Achaval Ferrer™ wines of Argentina and Arinzano™ wines of Spain.
About Key West Business Guild The mission of the Key West Business Guild is to promote LGBT travel to Key West through marketing and the promotion of specialty events; to support gay-owned, gay-managed, and gay-friendly businesses; to strengthen the Gay community's position within the local community by supporting relevant LGBT issues. The KWBG was founded in 1978 by 8 local gay business owners and has grown to approximately 400 members, which work together to continue efforts to brighten the rainbow over the island, an island now known as Gay Key West. Promotion of events, such as Key West Pride, Tropical Heat and Womenfest, has made Key West a year-round LGBT travel destination. For more information visit gaykeywestfl.com
MEDIA CONTACT: Kait Sheppard, Reddish 704-644-6920 [email protected]
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