Quest for the Cup: International Bartending Competition Celebrates the Art and Style behind Creative Cocktailing

The arctic homeland of Finlandia Vodka will serve as center stagethis year for the brand's international cocktail competition. Theeighth annual Finlandia Vodka Cup is set to take place on Jan. 31,2006 in Lapland, Finland--bringing together top bartenders from aroundthe world to showcase the signature drinks that have brought thegolden age of cocktails back to life. The bartenders will be judged onthe art, style and craft behind creative cocktailing as judges searchfor the world's best aperitif, long drink and after dinner drink.

"The cocktail bar business is going through a renaissance rightnow that has not been seen in decades," said Dale DeGroff, a worldrenown cocktail mixologist and judge for the Finlandia Vodka Cupcompetition. "It's an exciting time to be in the cocktail business andthis competition will undoubtedly bring some new and unique recipes tothe world."

Previous winners of the Finlandia Vodka Cup include Stojan Crizmanfrom Slovenia in 2004 and Cevat Yildirim from Turkey in 2005. Thesebartenders created cocktails such as the Finlandia Pineapple Kiss,Finlandia Caipiroska and Finlandia Kiwitini that have become knownaround the world.

"Finlandia is one of the world's premiere vodka brands and isproud to serve as the sponsor of this annual internationalcompetition," said Markku Raittinen, a Finlandia Brand Ambassador."The bartenders that create these unique cocktails deserve to becelebrated and there's no better place to do it than the birthplace ofFinlandia Vodka."

The Finlandia Vodka Cup consists of three drink categories: anaperitif, a long drink and an after dinner drink. Every drink abartender creates must have a new and original recipe based onFinlandia Vodka, or a member of their flavor family; Cranberry Fusion,Lime Fusion, Mango Fusion or Wild Berries Fusion. Competition eventsare fun, exciting and entertaining throughout the week - participantsare able to experience Finland while participating in snowmobilingsafaris and other outdoor activities.

Finlandia Vodka is a product with great heritage, unparalleledquality, and a global reputation. Finlandia is unique for its Nordicheritage and its crystalline natural spring water, a legacy of the IceAge. Finlandia's pure clean taste can be attributed to only the finestingredients, pure spring water, six row barley, and a continuousdistillation process.

Finlandia Vodka is made from the finest six-row barley grown underthe nurturing glow of the Midnight Sun. This barley, the mostexpensive distiller's grain, used by many distinguished single maltscotches and premium beers, offers the highest quality starch and thelowest possible content of natural oils which contributes to thecrisp, clean taste.

Keep Your Judgment Pure. Drink Responsibly.

Finlandia Vodka Worldwide Ltd (FVW) is a joint venture partnershipowned 100% by Brown-Forman Corporation. FVW is responsible for theFinlandia trademark and marketing and distribution assets.Brown-Forman handles all global marketing activities for the FinlandiaVodka brand.

Brown-Forman Corporation is a diversified producer and marketer offine quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel's, SouthernComfort, Finlandia Vodka, Canadian Mist, Fetzer and Bolla Wines,Korbel California Champagnes, and Hartmann Luggage.