Bacardi Cruise Competition

Appearance Margarita, Gin-Ger Rita and Bacardi Limon Marinated Seared Tuna and Scallop Tartare….Those are just a few of the winning titles of the top food and drink choices in last year’s Bacardi Cruise competition. This year marks the 5th year that Bacardi has invited bartenders and chefs (of legal drinking age), on cruise and ferry lines, to create the most tasty and unique culinary and cocktail concoctions while using the Bacardi family of spirits.

“As we continue to encourage talented onboard artisans to develop inspiring recipes, we are excited to enhance the Fifth BACARDI Cruise Competition with bigger prizes and more chances to win!” says José Chao, Bacardi Travel Retail Division Americas Vice President.

This year the winners of the Bartender of the Year and Chef of the Year categories will receive $5,000 (US) each. Their lauded drink or dish will be featured on the menu of their respective cruise or ferry line – starting in the summer of 2010. The cruise or ferry line with the most applicants will also win a special prize for its chefs and bartenders.

If you’re a chef or mixologist daring to take the challenge, logon to www.bacardicruisecompetition.com for all of the details. Preliminary guidelines for submitting recipes include:

-Your recipe must fall under one of the following culinary categories:

American, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, French

-If you’re interested in serving up a luscious adult beverage your recipe should include one of the following products:

“BACARDI® Rums, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin, GREY GOOSE® Vodka and Flavored Vodkas, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whiskies, MARTINI & ROSSI® Vermouths and MARTINI & ROSSI® Sparkling Wines, CAZADORES® Tequilas, as well as B&B®, DRAMBUIE®, and DISARONNO® Liqueurs.”

Last year Bacardi named “Greger Lindberg, Bar Manager of Viking Cinderella, BACARDI Bartender of the Year for his Rocks/Highball cocktail, Jinx, inspired by BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin. The BACARDI Chef of the Year was Alex Hekimov, Corporate Pastry Chef of Silversea Cruises, for his dessert, Citrus and BACARDI® Indulgence, inspired by BACARDI® Flavored Rums™.” Bartenders and chefs from the following vessels participated: Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Silversea Cruises.

This year the judging process will take place in a three tiered selection process, from semi finals to finals. Bacardi has brought “…culinary experts and celebrity mixologists” onboard for judging purposes. The deadline for submissions is November 30, 2009. Final judging will take place in January of 2010.