Entries Open for Cocktail World Cup

NEWS RELEASE 9 May 2005

Stand by Your Shakers - Entries Open for Cocktail World Cup

It’s cocktail shakers at the ready as bartenders throughout the world bend their elbows at the news entries are now open for the 42 BELOW Cocktail World Cup in Queenstown this September.

Some of the world’s best are lining up their short and long recipes to have a crack at the third annual 42 BELOW Cocktail World Cup. To enter, mixologists must be passionate supporters of the sponsor’s fine products and have a knock-‘em-over unique cocktail recipe to impress the judges.

The 42 BELOW Cocktail World Cup is the only event of its kind in the world. Forty-two bartenders representing 18 countries descend on New Zealand’s adventure capital on September 10 for a week of merry mixology mayhem. There they perform on an ice bar mixing up a storm using their leading edge cocktail concoctions.

The seven-day event also sees bartenders making cocktails whilst bungy jumping, dangling out of a helicopter and shooting down the Shotover River in a jet boat. And for the first time, the grand finale at Earnslaw Park on September 16 is open to the public.

42 BELOW has partnered with Air Tahiti Nui to fly the 42 successful bartenders from the airline’s main hubs of LA, New York, Paris and Tokyo to New Zealand.

And to bring the iconic event to the world, 42 BELOW is going to broadcast proceedings live via the Internet.

Geoff Ross, Chief Vodka Bloke at 42 BELOW, is encouraging Kiwi bartenders to take on the best from the USA, Europe and Asia. Six places in the event are reserved for New Zealand.

“I’m looking for a front six as formidable as the ABs for this year’s event,” Geoff says. “With New Zealand the home of 42 BELOW, we’re expecting the boys and girls to stand up and be counted in 2006.”

Geoff says it has taken three years to build the unique event.

“We now have a following around the globe. It brings some of the best decision makers in the bar and restaurant worlds to the home of the world’s best vodka to discover our fine array of products and spirit. And for those who can’t make it, we are keying in the full story to them daily via the Internet.”

Competitors in the 2006 42 BELOW Cocktail World Cup are expected from the UK, France, Spain, Western Europe, North and Central America, , Scotland, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to knock off the Aussie champs at the 42 BELOW Cocktail World Cup, check out the entry details at http://www.42below.com/cwc/.

ENDS

Quotes from last year’s event

“In terms of a providing a good story (hundreds of ideas!), the quality and talent of the participants and the 42 Below team, the professionalism and thought of the organisation, in every way it truly exceeded all my expectations.”

Georgia Cassimatis, Writer, GLAMOUR Magazine, USA

“No other cocktail competition in history has ever gone to the extreme lengths that 42 Below did in creating something unique and dynamic that will be talked about for years.

Having worked as a drinks journalist for many magazines around the world, I’ve been involved as a judge in numerous international cocktail competitions… None of these, however, even come close to the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup”

Naren Young – judge and journalist

The New York Team entertained on the Ice Bar

ENDS

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