Hornitos™ Premium Tequila Announces First National 'Mariachi Mash Up' Competition Encouraging Musicians to go 'Horns Up™' Mariachi-Style

DEERFIELD, Ill., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hornitos™ Premium Tequila is giving up-and-coming bands a chance at stardom via the new Hornitos Tequila Mariachi Mash Up competition with official media partner Billboard Magazine, announced today.  Whether it's rock, hip-hop or classical, the national contest challenges musical acts of all types to create their own mariachi-inspired mash up in celebration of the official kick-off to tequila season .

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110425/NY88302LOGO )

Beginning April 25th on Hornitos' official Facebook page, the Mariachi Mash Up competition will encourage bands to submit a three minute video incorporating traditional mariachi elements (trumpets, violins or even guitarrons) into a well-known song in order to create a memorable musical mix-up.  Entrants will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges, including Billboard Editor Tye Comer and a tequila expert from Hornitos.

Entrants can select from five well-known songs (list can be found on the Hornitos Facebook page) and have some fun performing their own "Mariachi style" interpretation. The top band will be featured in Billboard Magazine's coveted "Backbeat" section in a June 2011 issue and will receive a $10,000 cash prize. Contest winners will be announced on June 6th, 2011.

"The Hornitos Mariachi Mash Up Competition is the perfect way to kick off tequila season this year," says Amy Weisenbach, Senior Director of Tequila, Beam Global Spirits & Wine. "We love the creativity of mash ups and their fresh approach to music, and so Mariachi Mash Up is our unique way of paying homage to a music style that embraces the spirit of tequila. We are excited to give bands a chance to go 'Horns Up' in celebration of their win and tequila's biggest time of the year."

To be considered for the contest, entrants must meet the following qualifications:

• Participants must be 21+
• Entrants must mash-up songs listed on the website to qualify
• Videos should be no more than 3 minutes in length
• Videos should include the phrase "Horns Up" to celebrate the ritual of enjoying Hornitos tequila with friends

For more information on the Hornitos Tequila Mariachi Mash Up, please visit www.facebook.com/HornitosTequila or www.HornitosTequila.com.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  Must be 21 or older to enter.  Void where prohibited.  Contest begins on April 18, 2011 and ends May 23, 2011.  For complete official rules, visit the Contest tab of the Hornitos Tequila Page on Facebook.

About Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc.:

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. ("Beam Global") is one of the world's largest premium spirits companies, encompassing a portfolio of nearly 100 brands (including 10 of the world's top-100 premium spirits brands), more than a dozen global operating and commercial facilities and 3,200 employees worldwide. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam® Bourbon, Sauza® Tequila, Canadian Club® Whisky, Courvoisier® Cognac, Teacher's® Scotch Whisky, Maker's Mark® Bourbon, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Cruzan® Rum, Hornitos ™ Tequila, EFFEN® Vodka, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, DeKuyper® Cordials and Knob Creek® Bourbon. Growth through innovation is a key strategy at Beam Global, with Red Stag by Jim Beam® Bourbon, Cruzan® 9 Rum, Maker's 46™ Bourbon and Courvoisier® 12 Cognac and Courvoisier® 21 Cognac all being launched as new products over the past two years. Beam Global is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), a leading consumer brands company. For more information on Beam Global, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

SOURCE Hornitos(TM) Premium Tequila