http://beamglobal.co.nz Home Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:25:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 http://beamglobal.co.nz/products/bourbon/knob-creek/ http://beamglobal.co.nz/products/bourbon/knob-creek/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:25:23 +0000 admin http://beamglobal.co.nz/?p=1258 http://beamglobal.co.nz/products/bourbon/knob-creek/feed/ 0 http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/winner-of-new-zealands-biggest-bartending-competition-announced/ http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/winner-of-new-zealands-biggest-bartending-competition-announced/#comments Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:41:34 +0000 kathleen http://beamglobal.co.nz/?p=1176 Continue Reading]]>

Auckland, New Zealand, 9 October 2012 – Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM), a leading global premium spirits company, last night proclaimed Chase Bickerton as the winner of the biggest bartending competition in New Zealand history – Beam Bar Legend.

Bickerton, from The Naughty Penguin bar in Queenstown, was crowned the winner after a gruelling two day final in Auckland, having beaten 8 grand finalists from a pool of 370 entrants from around the country. He will take home $25,000 worth of prizes as well as the prestigious title of New Zealand’s first ever Beam Bar Legend.

“It is hard for me to describe how I feel right now. All the finalists are deserving of the title and I don’t think the win has sunk in for me yet,” he said.

“The past two days have been fantastic and really tested all of our skills not only in terms of making drinks but we have really had to prove ourselves with our personality and knowledge of the Beam portfolio as well. Everyone on the stage tonight was legendary,” he adds.

Beam (NZ) Marketing Director, Rene Bros, was one of the judges for the event and had the unenviable task of helping to select a winner. “With an unprecedented prize pack at stake, we needed to make sure that we chose the right person for the title. To ensure that happened, I had International Galliano Brand Ambassador Ago Perrone, Former New Zealand bartender of the year Chris Harrop and Club Suntory Manager Nigel Weisbaum from Sydney to support me,” he said.

New Zealand’s biggest bartending competition will get even bigger next year, with Bros confirming last night that the contest will be run again in 2013.

Finalists were tasked with six rounds including a formal interview, a blind tasting, an aperitivo challenge, a masterclass and presentation with Ago Perrone, and two cocktail invention challenges at the live final.

Bickerton took home a prize that includes an all expenses paid trip to a Beam distillery of his choice (Kentucky, Canada, the Caribbean, France, Scotland), an expense card valued at $10,000 and a $5,000 party for his bar.

]]> http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/winner-of-new-zealands-biggest-bartending-competition-announced/feed/ 0 http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/beam-ropes-in-international-talent-to-judge-beam-bar-legend-final/ http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/beam-ropes-in-international-talent-to-judge-beam-bar-legend-final/#comments Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:06:58 +0000 kathleen http://beamglobal.co.nz/?p=1168 Continue Reading]]>

Auckland, New Zealand, 4th October 2012 – Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM) has announced the line-up of judges for the biggest bartender competition in New Zealand history, the Beam Bar Legend.

International Galliano Brand Ambassador Ago Perrone, along with New Zealand comedian, Ben Hurley, Beam Marketing Director Rene Bros, Suntory cocktail and service specialist Nigel Weisbaum, and industry expert Chris Harrop, have all been hand picked to crown New Zealand’s first Beam Bar Legend.

Bros is confident that Beam has secured the right mix of judging talent to choose the bartender fit for the title. “Over the two day final, we will find someone with the right mixture of personality and talent and I am looking forward to working with Ben and Chris to find this person.”

“We’re also stoked to have Ago and Nigel on board as guest judges. Their international knowledge will compliment the level of expertise on our judging panel,” says Bros.

Ago Peronne’s recipes regularly appear in international A-List publications such as The Times, Vogue and GQ and he has received various accolades including the Tales of the Cocktail ‘World’s Best Bartender’ award in 2010.

London born and bred Nigel Weisbaum is a pioneer in the Mobile Cocktail Bar Industry. After much success in the UK, he made the move to Australia, working with Suntory (who own the Midori brand)Australia, to become one of the top 50 most respected and influential people in the bartending and hospitality industry.

Ben Hurley who was selected to judge the performance and personality of each contestant is one of New Zealand’s most recognisable comedians. His regular appearances on TV3’s 7 Days and success at the annual New Zealand International Comedy Festival have made him a household name.

Chris Harrop is no stranger to bartending competitions, having won the NZ Bartender Magazine ‘Bartender of the Year’ award in 2008. He also helped the New Zealand team finish second at the 42Below Cocktail World Cup in 2007.

The grand final is set to take place over two days on the 7th and 8th October. The eight finalists, announced last week, competed in preliminary rounds and have been narrowed down from a field of 370 entrants. The winner will walk away with a prize pack valued at over $25,000. This includes an all expenses paid trip to a Beam distillery of their choice (Kentucky, Canada, the Caribbean, France, Scotland), an expense card valued at up to $10,000 and a $5,000 party for their bar. ]]> http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/beam-ropes-in-international-talent-to-judge-beam-bar-legend-final/feed/ 0 http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/new-zealands-top-eight-bartenders-go-head-to-head-for-shot-at-victory/ http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/new-zealands-top-eight-bartenders-go-head-to-head-for-shot-at-victory/#comments Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:00:23 +0000 kathleen http://beamglobal.co.nz/?p=1137 Continue Reading]]>

Auckland, New Zealand, 20 September 2012 – Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM) a leading global premium spirits company has announced the finalists in the biggest bartender competition in New Zealand history -Beam Bar Legend.

From the record 370 bartenders who entered, eight talented contestants have made it through to the final, which will take place over two days on the 7th and 8th of October in Auckland.

In no particular order, the finalists are Adam Neal – Agent’s & Merchants/Racket (Auckland), Jack Sotiriou – 1885 (Auckland), Michael Meharg – Nineteen Eighty One (Auckland), Nicola Heal – Diva’s (Havelock North), Jonny Mackenzie – Cuckoo Cocktail Emporium (Wellington), Chase Bickerton – The Naughty Penguin (Queenstown), Genevieve Dunne – The Cadillac Club (Queenstown) and Jamie Hughes – Toast (Dunedin).

Beam (NZ) Marketing Director, Rene Bros, is looking forward to the grand final event after a busy few weeks of judging in Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown.

“It has been an exceptionally difficult task selecting only eight grand finalists from 30 of the country’s best bartenders.”he said.

“In the end, we selected those that stood out as having the total package – great drinks making ability, personality and charisma all of which could make them worthy of claiming the inaugural Beam Bar Legend title,” he added.

To claim their grand finals spot, bartenders participated in filmed interviews with Beam Brand Ambassador, Calem Chadwick. Each bartender was asked a number of questions that aimed to give Beam (NZ) a full insight to their experience, portfolio knowledge and personality. In addition, the 30 semi-finalists were challenged to create their interpretation of the ultimate Jim Beam and Cola using one of the Jim Beam branded bourbons.

The top eight will participate in the grand final where they will complete a series of tasks in their bid to be crowned New Zealand’s inaugural Beam Bar Legend. The winner will walk away with a prize pack valued at over $25,000. This includes an all expenses paid trip to a Beam distillery of their choice (Kentucky, Canada, the Caribbean, France, Scotland), an expense card valued at up to $10,000 and a $5,000 party for their bar.
]]> http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/new-zealands-top-eight-bartenders-go-head-to-head-for-shot-at-victory/feed/ 0 http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/best-bartenders-in-the-country-selected/ http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/best-bartenders-in-the-country-selected/#comments Wed, 05 Sep 2012 03:06:29 +0000 kathleen http://beamglobal.co.nz/?p=1120 Continue Reading]]>

Auckland, New Zealand, 3 September 2012 – Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM) a leading global premium spirits company, today announced the semi-finalists to the biggest bartender competition in New Zealand history – the Beam Bar Legend.

From the 370 bartenders who entered, 200 bartenders were asked to answer an online bar exam testing their general bar skills, bar etiquette and Beam portfolio knowledge, and just 30 talented entrants have made it through to the semi finals.

Beam (NZ) Marketing Director, Rene Bros, said it was difficult to select the semi-finalists, given the high calibre of submissions.

“It was very challenging picking 30 people from 200 very talented bartenders,” he said.

“Clearly, there are more than 30 bartenders in New Zealand who have charisma, and have the ability to create a fantastic work place atmosphere. It was the special, rare qualities that set the semi-finalists apart from the rest,” he added.

Auckland (10), Wellington (5), Queenstown (3), and Dunedin (3), contestants dominate the semi-finals list with other representatives included from Havelock North (2), Palmerston North (2), Northland, Tauranga, Rotorua, Nelson and Christchurch.

Over the next two weeks, Beam (NZ) will travel to Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown to meet the 30 semi-finalists where they will be filmed being interviewed by the Beam Brand Ambassador. In addition to the interview, bartenders will be asked to create their interpretation of the ultimate Jim Beam and Cola using one of the Jim Beam branded bourbons.

Following the interviews, Beam (NZ) will select and invite eight bartenders to participate in the grand final in Auckland where through a series of challenges they will be given the chance to prove themselves, and be crowned New Zealand’s very first Beam Bar Legend. The winner will also be walking away with a prize pack valued at over $25,000.

The prize pack includes an all expenses paid trip to a Beam distillery of their choice (Kentucky, Canada, Caribbean, France, Scotland), an expense card valued at up to $10,000 ($200 per week) and a $5,000 party for their bar.
]]> http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/best-bartenders-in-the-country-selected/feed/ 0 http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/new-zealands-biggest-bartender-competition-gets-underway/ http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/new-zealands-biggest-bartender-competition-gets-underway/#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:45:06 +0000 kathleen http://beamglobal.co.nz/?p=1108 Continue Reading]]>
Over the next few days, Beam (NZ) will select 200 bartenders to go through to the next round where they will be asked to complete an online bar exam. Bartenders will be asked to answer 45 questions that will not only test their general bar skills, but will also test their etiquette and portfolio knowledge.

Beam Marketing Director, Rene Bros, is looking forward to hosting this unique event.

“The thing that sets a great bartender apart is their charisma and ability to create a fantastic atmosphere in their workplace, not just who can make the best cocktail. We are looking forward to finding the person who has the whole package,” he said.

“We are overwhelmed at the amount of entries we have received over the past few weeks and it will be an interesting next few days for us,” he added.

The selected 200 bartenders will have until Friday 24th August to complete the exam with the top 30 scores going through to the next stage. The semi-finalists will be contacted on August 30, and semi-finals will be held in September in three different regions across the country. The selected eight finalists will then be invited to participate in the grand final to be held in Auckland in early October. ]]> http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/new-zealands-biggest-bartender-competition-gets-underway/feed/ 0 http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/join-the-club/ http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/join-the-club/#comments Mon, 20 Aug 2012 23:20:25 +0000 kathleen http://beamglobal.co.nz/?p=1112 Continue Reading]]>
The prize includes seven days and seven nights at the Canadian Club Clubhouse (a five bedroom log cabin in Queenstown), return airfares to Queenstown and a chaffeured limousine to the cabin where a Club and Leisure Activities Manager has an entertainment budget to keep the winners happily occupied with activities of their choice for seven days. There will also be a personal chef on hand to cook the winners’ meals and two maids.

This idea of winning 7 days of indulgence continues Canadian Club’s link with its above the line sponsorship of 7 Days on TV.

The promotion runs from 1 September to 30 November 2012 and the winner will be announced mid-December. To enter the competition, customers simply need to purchase specially marked packs of Canadian Club, including the 1 litre and 700ml bottles as well as RTD 10packs.

]]> http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/join-the-club/feed/ 0 http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/beam-announces-search-for-new-zealands-bar-legend/ http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/beam-announces-search-for-new-zealands-bar-legend/#comments Thu, 28 Jun 2012 03:29:26 +0000 kathleen http://beamglobal.co.nz/?p=1100 Continue Reading]]>

Auckland, New Zealand, June 26, 2012 – Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM), a leading global premium spirits company, today announced a new competition to find New Zealand’s first Beam Bar Legend.

The ‘Beam Bar Legend’ search will see bartenders across the country being given the opportunity to show off their skills with the overall winner walking away with a prize pack valued at over $25,000.

The prize pack includes an all expenses paid trip to a distillery of their choice (including a choice of Kentucky, Canada, Caribbean, France, Scotland), an expense card valued at up to $10,000 ($200 per week) and a $5,000 staff party for their bar.

“This competition is the first of its kind in New Zealand. We’re not looking for a flashy bartender who can spin bottles and balance glasses, we’re looking for someone with flair, who can do the basics right, engage with their customers on a personal level and show us that they have a clear understanding of the Beam portfolio,” says Rene Bros, Marketing Director of Beam Inc. New Zealand. “These are the skills that set apart the good bartenders from the great,” he adds.

From July 1, 2012, bartenders will have six weeks to enter the Beam Bar Legend competition at www.beambarlegend.co.nz. The semi-finalists will be contacted on August 30, and semi-finals will be held in September in three different regions across the country. The selected eight finalists will then be invited to participate in the grand finals in Auckland in early October.

]]> http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/beam-announces-search-for-new-zealands-bar-legend/feed/ 0 http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/rsv-celebrates-the-20th-anniversary-of-russia-day/ http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/rsv-celebrates-the-20th-anniversary-of-russia-day/#comments Thu, 21 Jun 2012 23:54:00 +0000 kathleen http://beamglobal.co.nz/?p=1075 Continue Reading]]>
An ice sculptor spent the morning carving St Basil’s Cathedral with a chainsaw and free coffee was given to commuters on their way to work.

The big hit however, was the Russian Shapka. On a chilly Auckland morning these fur hats provided welcome relief from the wintery conditions and the sea of black fur walking up Queen St meant that Russia Day did not go unnoticed.

Thanks to Eleven PR, TVNZ’s Breakfast covered the event, with weather presenter Tamati Coffey interviewing the ice sculptor and members of the local Russian community. Nearly 15 minutes of created content was broadcast to a potential audience of more than 100,000 Kiwis.



Russia Day marks the beginning of democratic reforms in Russia in the 1990′s and Russian Standard Vodka helped Aucklanders celebrate the 20th anniversary of this event in style. ]]> http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/rsv-celebrates-the-20th-anniversary-of-russia-day/feed/ 0 http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/beam-proud-sponsor-of-the-2012-capital-awards/ http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/beam-proud-sponsor-of-the-2012-capital-awards/#comments Mon, 18 Jun 2012 23:05:28 +0000 kathleen http://beamglobal.co.nz/?p=1051 Continue Reading]]>
As New Zealand’s number one solus spirits supplier to the liquor industry, Beam wholeheartedly supports and believes in the Wellington bar scene, and is proud to sponsor the Outstanding Bar category at the 2012 Capital Awards. To become the Beam Outstanding Bar of 2012, judges will be looking at the following definition of an Outstanding Bar:
This establishment is successful and provides inspiration to the industry. The service is friendly, knowledgeable and professional; it has a memorable atmosphere encouraging you to return regularly.

The finalists have now been announced…
- Ancestral
- Cuckoo Cocktail Emporium
- El Horno
- Matterhorn

The awards are to be held on Sunday 5th August at Te Wharewaka 0 Poneke (Waka House) on Wellington’s Waterfront. Visit www.capitalawards.co.nz for more information or to become a fan on Facebook.]]> http://beamglobal.co.nz/pr-media/beam-proud-sponsor-of-the-2012-capital-awards/feed/ 0