The highly successful BACARDI Cruise Competition just embarked on its fourth voyage in international waters. Cruise and ferry line bartenders and chefs of legal drinking age wishing to compete for cash scholarships, and the distinction of being named BACARDI Chef of the Year and BACARDI Bartender of the Year, are invited to create inspired cocktail and culinary recipes using the Bacardi family of premium and super-premium spirits. Recipes submitted need to include one of the following products: BACARDI(R) Rums, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE(R) Gin, GREY GOOSE(R) Vodka and Flavoured Vodkas, DEWAR'S(R) Blended Scotch Whiskies, MARTINI & ROSSI(R) Vermouths and MARTINI & ROSSI(R) Sparkling Wines, CAZADORES(R) Tequilas, as well as B&B(R), DRAMBUIE(R), and DISARONNO(R) Liqueurs.

"We are thrilled to launch the fourth edition of the BACARDI Cruise Competition," says Jose Chao, Bacardi Travel Retail Division Americas VP. "It is a perfect opportunity for us to support cruise and ferry lines around the world by recognizing the talent of their bartenders and chefs. To continue inspiring concoctions and creativity, we've added a new brand, CAZADORES Tequilas, from the Bacardi family of products. We encourage the bartenders to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into their recipes; this year's Signature Cocktail category requires the use of pineapple. Furthermore, we have added a new BACARDI Mojito Cocktail category and an Appetizer category."

Cruise and ferry line bartenders and chefs may submit recipes in five cocktail and five culinary categories.

The deadline for all recipe submissions is December 31, 2008. All entries will be judged initially by culinary experts and a panel of renowned celebrity mixologists, with semi-finalists selected in each category. The winning semi-finalists will then advance to the final round where a VIP judging panel--comprised of cruise line executives, culinary experts, cocktail specialists and media, will judge entries at an exclusive event in February 2009 to determine the next BACARDI Bartender of the Year and BACARDI Chef of the Year. Cash scholarships, presented by the Marine Hotel Association (MHA), will be awarded to the ten category winners, as well as the BACARDI Bartender of the Year and the BACARDI Chef of the Year at a private function in March 2009. The winning recipes featuring these world-class spirit and wine brands may be offered aboard ships for the 2009 sailing season.

Bartenders and chefs from more than 20 cruise and ferry lines around the world submitted hundreds of creative culinary and cocktail recipes during the competition's third year, which ran from June 2007 through March 2008. Jesus Gomez, Assistant Bar Manager on Summit, Celebrity Cruises, was named the BACARDI Bartender of the Year for his Specialty Cocktail, Eureka, inspired by BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin. Manuel Luis Domingo, First Cook on Diamond Princess, Princess Cruises, was declared BACARDI Chef of the Year for his Dessert, Fruit Sushi in BACARDI Raspberry Coulis, inspired by BACARDI RAZZ(TM) Flavoured Rum.

To enter the 2008-2009 BACARDI Cruise Competition online, learn more about the rules and the Bacardi family of products, as well as read previous winners' recipes, go to www.bacardicruisecompetition.com.