The United States Bartender Guild (USBG) Names Phoenix's Jason Asher as the Nation's Next Up and Coming Mixology King

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, 45 of the country's top mixologists descended on Las Vegas for the USBG Bartender Summit, sponsored by BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® and GQ Magazine, each of them having already proven themselves as their hometown's mixology master.  After two days of intense cocktail-making, the USBG announced Phoenix's Jason Asher as the nation's "Most Inspired Bartender."  To honor this achievement, Asher and his BOMBAY SAPPHIRE cocktail, the Beet & Yuzu Gimlet, along with 44 top bartenders from the program, will be featured in GQ Magazine's December 2010 Men of the Year issue, which hits stands on November 23rd.

"We are thrilled to partner with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE and the USBG on such an exciting initiative," says Pete Hunsinger, GQ's VP and Publisher. "Now in its fourth year, the success of the 'Most Inspired Bartender' program is a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity, and continues to show the evolution, and the relevance, of cocktail-making in American culture."

The "Most Inspired Bartender" program traveled to over 40 US cities and welcomed more than 3,500 participating bartenders in 2010.  While bartenders from major cities like New York, San Francisco and Portland are world-famous for their cocktail making skills, it became clear at this year's event that other US cities are making a name for themselves as hotbeds of undiscovered mixology talent.  With the aim of advancing best-practice bartender, cultivating mixologists' skills and encouraging their creativity, the "Most Inspired Bartender" program has played a pivotal role in recognizing up-and-coming cocktail cities such as Denver, Houston and Asher's hometown of Phoenix.  The USBG has seen a genuine increase in bartender enthusiasm for the program as well as the quality of cocktails - evidenced by some of the ingredients used in the cocktails of this year's Top 10.  Opal basil, red bell pepper, Texas tarragon, orange marmalade and shiso leaves are just a few of the unique ingredients used by mixologists to play up the diverse flavor notes and botanicals in the uniquely, vapor-infused BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin.

The summit began in Las Vegas on Sunday, August 29th, with all 45 bartenders preparing their inspired cocktails for an elite panel of USBG representatives.  The following night, ten select mixologists presented their cocktails to "The Modern Mixologist" and former Iron Chef challenger Tony Abou-Ganim, Liz Edwards of the USBG, mixology master Francesco Lafranconi, GQ Style Correspondent Brett Fahlgren and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Brand Ambassador Milo Rodriguez.  After sampling the cocktails, the panel reached the unanimous decision that Asher and his Beet & Yuzu Gimlet, made with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE, raw beet juice, fresh squeezed yuzu juice and simple syrup, was the nation's "Most Inspired."  Abou-Ganim said, "The Beet & Yuzu Gimlet was so complex, with layers of flavor, but was still able to perfectly showcase BOMBAY SAPPHIRE."

Asher described the experience as "surreal" and added, "I'm inspired every day to create fresh, unique cocktails and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin is an asset in helping me achieve that.  I'm beyond grateful to be recognized by the USBG for something I'm so passionate about."

Richard McLeod, Brand Manager of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE, commented, "We were extremely impressed by the innovative, high-quality cocktails we sampled in Las Vegas this year.  Inspired mixologists like Jason Asher can truly be credited with raising the bar in the mixology industry."

Asher was in esteemed company at the USBG Bartender Summit, working alongside hometown favorite Kristen Schaefer of Las Vegas, who created her own bitter orange foam and used white Earl Gray tea in her Don Harlow cocktail.  New York City's Andrew Mirabito also used unconventional, thought-provoking ingredients such as fennel pollen and blue agave nectar in his SAPPHIRE Emerald Fizz cocktail.

In 2010, Asher and his Beet & Yuzu Gimlet cocktail stand as an archetypal example of the imagination, passion and creativity necessary to be named the nation's "Most Inspired Bartender."  Below are the recipes of Phoenix's Jason Asher, Las Vegas' Kristen Schaefer and New York City's Andrew Mirabito:

Beet & Yuzu Gimlet

(created by Jason Asher, Phoenix, AZ)

The Don Harlow

(created by Kristen Schaefer, Las Vegas, NV)

SAPPHIRE® Emerald Fizz

(created by Andrew Mirabito, NYC)

About Bombay Sapphire®

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® is the fastest growing premium gin in the world and world's number one premium gin by value.  BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is created with a unique combination of ten hand-selected botanicals, sourced from around the globe. The brand's global essence and signature vapor infusion process impart a refined and perfectly balanced taste, versatile enough for both classic cocktails and exotic recipes.  A leader among gins, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is a symbol of the exploration of worldly and sophisticated lifestyles. For more information, please explore www.bombaysapphire.com.

BE BRILLIANT AND INSPIRED. DRINK RESPONSIBLY!

www.bombaysapphire.com

©2010 BOMBAY SAPPHIRE AND SAPPHIRE ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS.

IMPORTED BY THE BOMBAY SPIRITS COMPANY U.S.A., CORAL GABLES, FL.  GIN - 47% ALC. BY VOL

About Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.

Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. is the import, sales and marketing arm of one of the world's leading wine and spirits producers. Bacardi U.S.A. boasts a brand portfolio of some of the most recognized and top-selling spirits in the United States including:  BACARDI® rum, the world's favorite and best-selling premium rum, as well as the world's most awarded rum; GREY GOOSE® vodka, the world-leader in super-premium vodka; DEWAR'S® Scotch whisky, the number-one selling blended Scotch whisky in the United States; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, the top-valued premium gin in the world; CAZADORES® blue agave tequila, the top-selling premium tequila worldwide; MARTINI® vermouth, the world-leader in vermouth; and other leading and emerging brands.

SOURCE Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.