What's in a Legacy?

Bacardi to be exact and on February 1^st, 2011 a handful of the nation’s top mixologists proved just that on South Beach!

After years in this industry, there is one tell-tale sign for me that everyone is having a great time and TEAM has pulled off another great event….I call it “the Midnight Grin.”  As I ran from one end of the event to another (in a blazer in Miami, no less!) looking for waiters to remove trash, refill ice and count heads, I noticed the grin on people’s faces.  Sure, part of it could have been the complimentary Bacardi Gold mojitos, but something was in the air and there was no doubt….This event was one for the record books.

TEAM hosted the national finals of the USGB Bacardi Legacy Cocktail competition at the legendary Fontainebleau Hotel’s La Cote in South Beach.

It was truly an “all hands on deck” process for TEAM.  From the photographer, event planning and set up, to finding KOLD draft ice (Never heard of it?  Definitely worth looking up!) for the bartenders, having our Brand Ambassadors on hand to work with the mixologists…. Melissa, Gabe, Ryan and the rest of the South Florida team hustled to make this complex event look effortless, only to be left with tired feet and a huge smile of satisfaction at the end of the night.

The invite list was capped at 300, but for this evening over 600 showed to consume, dance and of course..watch the mixology competition.  The ground floor was full of bars, food and a great band. The second floor had a cigar roller, a different bar for each featured Bacardi cocktail and of course…the competition.  TEAM invited the top bartenders, GMs and trendiest locals to a truly Miami event.  In the end, John Lermayer from the Florida Room (please tell me you have checked out the Florida Room on a Tuesday night if you have visited Miami…if you haven’t you’re missing a great night out!) won the Legacy competition.

However, if you ask me, Bacardi and TEAM won the night.  In an effort to kick off the new “Bacardi Together” campaign this year, bringing everyone together is just what we did (felt like most of Miami, in fact!).

To leave you with a quote from the local Bacardi Market Manager, “This is truly what a Bacardi event in Miami should be.”   Cue the “Midnight Grin.”

You can see great photos of the event here:

http://www.944.com/nightsites/gallery/bacardi-national-legendary-cocktail-trade-event/

But if you’re still not getting a clear picture of the event...Remember the old Bacardi Mojito ad where everyone’s dancing as a bartender mixes up mojitos in Miami Beach?  Yeah, it was like that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RFxGn6C6ak

-William K. Domico

Regional Program Manager

TEAM enterprises

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