United States Bartenders' Guild Introduces 'Carnival of the Cocktail' Sponsored by 42BELOW Vodka

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Ladies and gentlemen, step right up and prepare yourself for the greatest show in cocktails, the 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup 'Carnival of the Cocktail'. For the seventh year running, United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG) invites the world's most ingenious and audacious talents in mixology to showcase their skills, represent their country and square off against their peers on the cocktail world's brightest stage, the 2011 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup in New Zealand.

Six countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, France and Italy will hold contests at regional and national levels in which bartenders will compete to create the most innovative cocktail as judged by leaders in the cocktail industry. The top three (3) bartenders from each country will be selected to represent their nation in the 2011 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup finals in New Zealand March 14 to 18, 2011.

The U.S. portion of the competition began today. From now through Dec. 31 the USBG will recruit the top bartenders in the United States to enter their most creative and inventive cocktails into this illustrious competition. The winning cocktail entries will join the cocktail caravan and compete in head-to-head regional final events.

Regional finals will take place Jan. 16 to 25 in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C. The top two (2) finalists from each market will move on to compete at the national finals held in New York on Feb 13. From that group, three (3) U.S. champions will be chosen to represent the United States in New Zealand where they will compete for global cocktail dominance and glory.

Once in New Zealand, the six national teams will head to adventure playground, Queenstown, before making their way to Wellington to compete in the big dance. When the bartenders aren't testing the limits of the human body and mixology by muddling limes in jet boats screaming through narrow canyons, or shaking while plummeting down a gorge on a bungee, they'll be chumming it up with the ringmasters of the wonderful world of cocktails. Want to run away and join the circus? See the official 2011 Cocktail World Cup trailer here.

"The 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup is an amazing way to celebrate the superstars of the trade. The seventh time around it will be more extreme and exciting than ever before," says 42BELOW Marketing Director Dion Nash.

For more information, please visit the 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup website at cocktailworldcup.com or contact Josh Rangel at [email protected].

Bartender Entry Criteria:

• Be over the legal drinking age in the United States
• Speak and understand a reasonable level of English
• Must not have previously participated in the 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup in New Zealand
• Must have bartending experience
• Must create an original signature cocktail preferably using 42BELOW Vodka or 42BELOW Flavored Vodka (Contestants must submit entries to cocktailworldcup.com by Dec. 31, 2010)

About 42BELOW

42BELOW Vodka was launched in 1998 in the premium vodka segment and has shown strong volume growth since its inception. The brand known for its innovative, bold and entrepreneurial style has earned a strong reputation for authentic New Zealand quality and exceptional taste, reflected in winning numerous prestigious international awards including gold medals (for the fourth year running) at the 45th World Selection of Spirits and Liqueurs 2007 Barcelona, the San Francisco Spirits Awards and the International Wines & Spirits competition UK. 42BELOW vodka, acquired by Bacardi Ltd. In 2006, is currently distributed in more than 25 countries.

About USBG

With 60 years of presence in the United States and International coverage in affiliation with the International Bartender's Association (IBA) in over 50 countries, the United States Bartenders' Guild is the largest network of Craft Bartenders & Beverage Professionals in the country and is setting the standard of which to achieve. TheUSBG is a non-profit organization that has expanded nationally to Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Dallas, Denver, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, St. Louis and continues to grow.

As an industry leader, the USBG is responsible for keeping its members in line with current trends in order to maintain a competitive edge. The USBG is an association of bartenders who come together to share their common interest: the craft of mixology and is made up of exceptional bartenders who take great pride in the cocktails they serve.

42BELOW® Vodka and Flavored Vodkas

NEW ZEALANDERS AGREE: DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

©2010 42BELOW AND THE 42 BOTTLE DESIGN ARE TRADEMARKS AND/OR REGISTERED TRADEMARKS.  42BELOW IMPORTING COMPANY, CORAL GABLES, FL. VODKA – 40% ALC. BY VOL. -- 100% NEUTRAL SPIRITS DISTILLED FROM GRAIN.   FLAVORED VODKAS - EACH 40% ALC. BY VOL.

SOURCE United States Bartenders' Guild