Bacardi Toasts To A Festive Season With New Global Gift Packs Designed To Enjoy The Best Of The Holidays

Facundo Bacardi shares his favorite entertaining tips to make you the ultimate host

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Nov. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - Bacardi Limited, the largest privately-held spirits company, lights up this year's holiday season with new brand expressions and ultimate party ideas perfected through its 150-year history. BACARDI rum, the spirit that started it all, has been at the center of festivities since 1862 when Don Facundo Bacardi Masso revolutionized the spirits world by creating rum as we know it today. The exceptional quality and mixability of BACARDI make it the world's most awarded spirit and a sure standout at your celebrations.

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"Bacardi has a long history of being at the center of unforgettable parties, whether informal get-togethers or special occasions. With our family name on every bottle, it's intrinsically part of who we are. We take pride in the fact our finely-crafted products distinguish any event," said Facundo L. Bacardi, Chairman of Bacardi Limited and great-great grandson of the Bacardi founder. "I am very proud of my family's history of helping our consumers create and celebrate events that become truly memorable in the same way our family hosted parties in our home in Cuba where every guest always felt special."

The Company's Cuban roots stem from Santiago de Cuba where Bacardi—the family, Company and iconic rum brand—started its 150-year association with great parties from around the world. From the 1930s, the era Bacardi houses its oldest holiday ad, to the avant-garde brand ads of the 1950s that set the trend for print advertising are striking examples of BACARDI rum as a cultural mainstay of the island's celebratory events. Vintage seasonal campaigns, with dramatic graphic design, illustrate the Company's profound connection with consumers and distinctive role at holiday festivities. The tradition of creating memorable experiences, while enjoying quality products is alive today, which makes the Bacardi family of spirits ideal gifts.

"Consumers around the world rely on Bacardi for premium gift giving because they identify with our heritage and value our authenticity. They know from experience they're giving the best," said Ed Shirley, President and CEO of family-owned Bacardi Limited. "Since the very beginning, our products have made memorable gifts that consumers are happy to receive and proud to give."

Premium Holiday Gift Packs

This season is particularly special for Bacardi as it coincides with the yearlong celebration of its 150^th anniversary. For generations, Bacardi has designed gift packs that capture the excitement of the season. Consumers trust distinguished presentations to leave lasting impressions.

• U.S.: BACARDI, the spirit that started it all, releases a limited-edition heritage pack recreating one of the earliest BACARDI Superior bottle designs and labels. Priced for all to enjoy at $19.99, the replica bottle is featured in the 150^th anniversary advertising campaign and contains a specialty, hand-blended rum smooth enough to drink on the rocks. Be on the lookout for the TV spot as the 150^th celebration continues.
• Canada: Consumers can gift or collect custom designed BACARDI 150^th anniversary graphic tins. Each, uniquely decorated with a selection of vibrant historical advertising imagery or iconic BACARDI bat logos, holds a bottle of BACARDI Superior rum. Tin is gift with purchase of BACARDI 750-ml, while supplies last.
• U.S.: Scotch whisky lovers can enjoy DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky along with a functional bag, designed by menswear fashion house Freemans Sporting Club®, with a custom flask to accompany a bottle of DEWAR'S 18 Years Old—a smooth and creamy blend, double barrel aged and matured in vintage oak casks.
• U.K.: GREY GOOSE, the world's best tasting vodka, offers a luxurious gift box which includes a bottle of GREY GOOSE, two crystal flute glasses and the recipe for making the perfect GREY GOOSE Le Fizz, the ultimate cocktail for a festive celebration at home.
• Brazil: Premium vodka connoisseurs will have two GREY GOOSE Special Christmas Packs to choose from featuring GREY GOOSE Original vodka with two martini cocktail glasses or two signature mixers.
• France: MARTINI offers a limited-edition collector's pack to create the sensational MARTINI Royale cocktail. Mix 50/50 parts MARTINI Bianco with MARTINI Prosecco to enjoy in a signature glass—two of which are included.
• Russia and Eastern Europe: Gift givers can express themselves with a customizable MARTINI Asti seasonal package which includes a specialty marker to write on the bottle—decorated with three designs of stars, snowflakes and trees that illuminate when the lights go out.
• China and select Global Travel Retail: DEWAR'S offers The Master Blender's Sensorial Experience Limited Edition Nosing & Tasting Kit, featuring three bottles of DEWAR'S White Label, DEWAR'S 12 Years Old and DEWAR'S 18 Years Old Blended Scotch whiskies. Gift recipients are guided through a QR code for an in-depth whisky appreciation tasting at http://www.dewars.com/taste. A special DEWAR'S White Label gift box and glass pack also features a QR code at www.dewars.com/white to offer an interactive taste experience, including ways to enjoy and cocktail recipes.
• Global Travel Retail: BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin lights up with ground-breaking packaging that features an illustration from the brand's "Infused with Imagination" theme. Illuminates in stages to create a 'cascade' effect inspiring one's imagination.

Home Holiday Entertaining Tips

"People always ask me what the secret is behind great cocktails, gifts, parties and bars. It's really simple: focus on the experience and only serve the best," added Mr. Bacardi. "Our premium brands—from BACARDI, to GREY GOOSE, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE, MARTINI, DEWAR'S, CAZADORES and more—do just that. They give you endless possibilities to 'wow' your guests. Over the years, I've stood by a few go-to tips that make any party memorable."

As the ultimate party host and bartender, Facundo Bacardi shares his favorite holiday entertaining advice to help you serve the best cocktails this season:

• Plan Ahead: Prepare cocktails in advance so they are easy to serve when your guests arrive. This leaves more time to enjoy and make great memories.
• Fresh Ingredients: Use seasonal ingredients to ensure the best quality and flavors.
• Use Good Ice: Cocktail insiders know ice made with great tasting water makes a big difference. For perfectly balanced cocktails, use one-inch cubes because they melt more slowly, keeping the drink intense for longer.
• Captivate the Senses: Enjoying premium spirits is all about the experience. Think about how your cocktail looks, its aroma, and the glass which holds it all together. A little garnish, like a lemon zest or cranberry, is a great way to tie your vision together.
• Quality Spirits: Have a variety of premium spirits available. Home bars should be stocked to satisfy the palates of all guests. The Bacardi family of great-tasting brands covers a wide range of bar calls— rum, vodka, gin, tequila, whisky, cognac, vermouth, liqueurs and sparkling wines.
• Signature Cocktail: Match the mood of the party or the hosts' personality with a unique offering. For a coconut flavor with a hint of cinnamon, try the BACARDI Coquito, a traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink.
• Food Pairings: Complement food with cocktails to bring out the unique flavors.
• Enjoy Responsibly: Always offer water, soft drinks and food to guests to prolong the good times. Encourage people to take a cab or use a designated driver.

For great-tasting holiday recipes visit bacardi.com, greygoose.com, dewars.com, martini.com, or bombaysapphire.com. And, to learn more about Bacardi and its 150-year heritage of starting great parties, visit www.BacardiLimited.com/150.

About Bacardi Limited
Bacardi Limited, the largest privately-held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally-recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI® rum, the world's best-selling and most-awarded rum, as well as the world's most-awarded spirit; GREY GOOSE® vodka, the world's leading super-premium vodka; DEWAR'S® Blended Scotch whisky, the world's most awarded Scotch and the number-one selling premium blended Scotch whisky in the United States; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, the top-valued and fastest-growing premium gin in the world; MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, the world's leading vermouth and the world's favorite Italian sparkling wines; CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, the number-one premium tequila in Mexico and a top-selling premium tequila in the United States; ERISTOFF® vodka, one of the fastest-growing vodka brands in the world; and other leading and emerging brands.

Founded 150 years ago in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, and family-owned for the past seven generations, Bacardi now employs nearly 6,000 people, manufactures its brands at 27 facilities in 16 markets on four continents, and sells in more than 150 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. www.BacardiLimited.com

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©2012 BACARDI

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