Official Rules for TOTCF’s Good Clean Fun - The Ultimate Espresso Martini Competition Sponsored by Absolut and Kahlua

Eligibility

Bartenders: The Competition is open only to individuals who (a) are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (b) are at least twenty-five (25) as of the date of entry, (c) work in a bar at least 20 hours per week, and (d) have a passport valid through December 2024.

Exclusions: Individuals who are full-time or part-time employees of TOTCF, Pernod Ricard U.S.A., Absolut, Kahlua, Offsite, or a distributor at the time of entry, as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, children) and household members of those employees, are not eligible to enter.

Stage 1: Online Entries

How to Enter: Visit www.espressomartinicompetition.com(the “Website”) and follow the instructions on that page. Participants will be required to submit a form of their identifying and contact information. Together, the form and submission constitute the “Entry.” Entries must be received by December 20th, 2023, and there is a limit of one (1) Entry per person.

Selection: Participation in each Local Event will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis. Capacity for each local event will range from ten (10) to forty (40) Participants.

Notification of Local Events: TOTCF will notify all Participants via email, and invite them to participate in their Local Event. Each competitor may be required to complete and return a declaration of eligibility, a liability/publicity release, a current W-9, and authorization to conduct a background check. TOTCF reserves the right (in its sole discretion) to disqualify a competitor if the individual does not sign the necessary forms within five (5) days of the date notification is sent. If a competitor returns these documents on time, and in TOTCF’s sole discretion, passes the background check, they will be invited to participate in the Local Event in their market.

Stage 2: Local Events

Local Events: The Local events will take place between January 1st - February 10th, 2024 in markets throughout the U.S.. Each competitor is responsible for any necessary travel, accommodations, meals, taxes, and the cost of other incidental expenses incurred by participating in a Local Event.

Competition Details: During the Local Events, participants will compete against the clock. Any deviation from the below guidelines will result in a deduction from a competitor’s total score.

● Participants will make four (4) dry espresso martinis in as little time as possible

○ Dry Espresso Martinis should consist of

■ 2oz Absolut Vodka

■ 1oz Kahlua Coffee Liqueur

■ 1oz espresso

■ 3 espresso beans

○ All ingredients, ice, bar tools, and glassware will be provided

○ Participants can provide their own bar tools if preferred

Judging: The challenges will be judged according to the following criteria:

Offense	Penalty
Straw Test: Pass/Fail	+ 30sec if no
Does the cocktail fill the glass?	Empty: +30s; half +15s, 1/3rd +5s
Are there three espresso beans?	Wrong amount: +5s per drink
Is there foam on top of the cocktail?	None: +15s
Do the espresso beans float?	No: +15s
Is there drink left in the tins?	Every .25oz: +5s
Spill: 5" or less	+5s
Spill: 5"-10"	+10s
Spill: 10"+	+20s
Clothing Stain (any size)	+10s

Prizing: The competitor with the fastest time, after penalty adjustments, will be the winner of each Local Event.

Notification of East and West Regional Finalists: TOTCF will notify all Finalists via email by February 16, 2024, and invite them to participate in the East or West Regional Championship. Each Finalist may be required to complete and return a declaration of eligibility, a liability/publicity release, a current W-9, and authorization to conduct a background check. TOTCF reserves the right (in its sole discretion) to disqualify a Finalist if the individual does not sign the necessary forms within five (5) days of the date notification is sent. If a Finalist returns these documents on time, and in TOTCF’s sole discretion, passes the background check, they will be invited to participate in the East or West Regional Championship in Charleston, SC or San Diego, CA.

Stage 3: East & West Championships

East and West Regional Championships: The East Regional Championship will take place on a date between March 18- April 15, 2024 in Boston, MA. The West Regional Championship will take place on a date around April 15, 2024 in San Diego, CA. TOTCF will provide travel and accommodations to the East or West Regional Championship. Each competitor is responsible for any meals, luggage, taxes, and other incidental expenses.

Competition Details: During the East and West Regional Championships, participants will compete against the clock. Additional challenges may be added ahead of championship events, at the discretion of TOTCF. Any deviation from the below guidelines will result in a time penalty being added to the competitor’s time.

● Participants will make 12 dry espresso martinis in as little time as possible

○ Dry Espresso Martinis should consist of

■ 2oz Absolut Vodka

■ 1oz Kahlua Coffee Liqueur

■ 1oz espresso

■ 3 espresso beans

○ All ingredients, ice, and glassware will be provided

○ Participants should provide their own bartools

Judging: The challenges will be judged according to the following criteria.

● Any spillage on the bartop, service rail, or bar floor will result in a time penalty

○

Prizing: The Finalists with the three fastest times will be named the Champions. The Finalist with the fourth fastest time will be named the Runner Up.

Stage 4: Prizing

Trip to Absolut Akademi: The top three (3) fastest Finalists from the East and West Regional Championships, the Champions, will receive: (a) round-trip coach class airfare for one (1) person from an airport close to the winner’s home to Stockholm, Sweden; (b) hotel accommodations for three (3) nights; (c) ground transportation in Sweden; (d) travel insurance; and (e) an immersive, educational experience at Absolut Akademi. The approximate retail value of the trip is $6,500. The actual value of the trip will vary depending on various factors, including the date of booking, the point of departure, and the dates of travel. Please see the Prize Details Section below for additional details. Winners will be responsible for their passport, visa if needed, vaccines, luggage, tax, meals, and the cost of other incidental expenses.

Bar 5 Day Scholarship: The fourth fastest Finalist from the East and West Regional Championships, the Runner Ups, will receive: (a) round-trip coach class airfare for one (1) person from an airport close to the winner’s home to Hyde Park, New York; (b) hotel accommodations for five (5) nights; (c) ground transportation; (d) travel insurance; and (e) a scholarship to the Bar 5 Day educational program. The approximate retail value of the trip is $8,500. The actual value of the trip will vary depending on various factors, including the date of booking, the point of departure, and the dates of travel. Please see the Prize Details Section below for additional details. Winners will be responsible for luggage, tax, meals, and the cost of other incidental expenses.

General Terms

Supplies: For all stages, participants will be responsible for all expenses that are not explicitly stated as provided by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation in these rules.

Agreement to Terms and Conditions: By participating in this Competition, participants indicate their unconditional agreement to these Official Rules, the TOTCF Code of Conduct, and TOTCF’s decisions, which are final and binding. Moreover, by participating, they represent that they are complying with any policies their employer may have regarding participation in competitions of this nature. Participants cannot win a prize unless they comply with all requirements set forth herein. TOTCF reserves the right to change these Official Rules at any time, without prior notice. Any changes will be posted on the Website.

Background Check: TOTCF reserves the right (at any point and in its sole discretion) to disqualify any individual if, based on the results of the background check – or on an individual’s other actions or statements – TOTCF concludes that the individual will not be a good representative for the TOTCF, Absolut, or Kahlua brands. Any actions of the competitor outside of accordance with the TOTCF Code of Conduct will result in disqualification from the program.

Rights to Entries: By entering, participants irrevocably: (a) grant TOTCF, Pernod Ricard U.S.A., Absolut, Kahlua, and each of their agents, licensees, and assigns (collectively, the “Rights Holders”) the unconditional and non-exclusive right and permission to copyright, reproduce, encode, store, copy, transmit, publish, post, broadcast, display, publicly perform, adapt, modify, create derivative works of, exhibit, and otherwise use their Entry as-is or as-edited in any media throughout the world for any purpose, without limitation, and without additional review, compensation, or approval from the competitor or any other party for five (5) years from the date they submitted the Entry; (b) waive any rights of copyrights, trademark rights, privacy rights, and any other legal or moral rights that may preclude the Rights Holders’ use of the Entry, as outlined above, or require any further permission for the Rights Holders to use the Entry; and (c) agree not to instigate, support, maintain, or authorize any action, claim, or lawsuit against the Rights Holders on the grounds that any use of the Entry, or any derivative works, infringes any of their rights as creator of the Entry, including, without limitation, copyrights, trademark rights, and moral rights.

Publicity: Except where prohibited, by participating in the Competition, participants agree that the Rights Holders and any media attending events related to the Competition may use their name, likeness, voice, opinions, photographs, event-related audio-visual footage, biographical information, state of residence, and/or any other record of their participation in the Competition for promotional purposes in any press releases, advertisements, television, radio, film, documentary, internet, social media, or in any other publication or media without further payment or consideration and to license the right to use such intellectual property to others. Participants may be required to sign additional releases regarding publicity.

Prize Details: Participants are responsible for paying any taxes, including income taxes and any and all other costs and expenses not listed in the Official Rules. Participants may be required to provide a Social Security Number for tax reporting purposes. Any prize details not specified above will be determined by TOTCF, at its sole discretion. The actual value of the trips will vary depending on various factors, including the date of booking, the point of departure, and dates of travel. A prize may not be transferred and must be accepted as awarded. Participants may not request cash or a substitute prize; however, TOTCF reserves the right to substitute a prize (or component thereof) with another prize (or component thereof) of equal or greater value if the prize is not available for any reason, as determined by TOTCF, in its sole discretion. Participants must travel on the dates specified by TOTCF. Once travel documents are issued, travel arrangements cannot be changed. If participants cannot travel on the dates specified by TOTCF, they will not be permitted to compete in the next stage of the Competition. Participants are responsible for securing passports, visas, and any other documents necessary for international travel. If the Competition is canceled, no prizes may be awarded.

General Conditions: In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Competition is impaired in any way, TOTCF may, in its sole discretion, either: (a) cancel or suspend the Competition to address the impairment and then resume the Competition; or (b) award the prizes according to the criteria set forth above from among the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. TOTCF reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify and seek damages from any individual who tampers with the operation of the Competition, violates these Official Rules or the TOTCF Code of Conduct, or acts in a disruptive or unsportsmanlike manner. TOTCF’s failure to enforce any term of these Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Proof of sending any communication to TOTCF by mail shall not be deemed proof of receipt of that communication by TOTCF. The Competition is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void in Utah and where prohibited. Participants agree that, while participating in the contest and in their private lives, they will (a) not commit an offense involving moral turpitude; (b) not engage in activities that may create any public scandal, disrepute, widespread contempt, or public ridicule; (c) not harass, embarrass, offend, insult, or denigrate individuals or groups; (d) not damage the person or property of others; (e) that they will treat all other contestants, judges, and related competition personnel with respect; and (f) that they will drink responsibly. Travel and cash prizes will be taxable to participants and they should expect to receive a Form 1099.

Release and Limitations of Liability: By participating in the Competition, participants hereby release and hold harmless TOTCF, Pernod Ricard U.S.A., Absolut, Kahlua, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents (the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Competition or receipt or use of any prize, including, but not limited to: (a) unauthorized human intervention in the Competition; (b) technical errors; (c) printing errors; (d) lost, late, postage-due, misdirected, or undeliverable mail; (e) errors in the administration of the Competition or the processing of Entries; (f) injury or damage to partiicipants and their property and/or (g) injury or damage they cause to other persons or property. Participants further agree to defend, indemnify, release, and hold the Released Parties harmless from any claims related to their participation including damage to other persons and property, and from any claims that their use of their Entry (as contemplated in these Rules) violates or infringes upon the rights of any third party. Participants waive the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.

Disputes: All disputes arising out of or related to these rules, the Competition, or any other matter shall be resolved through binding arbitration filed and heard in New Orleans, Louisiana pursuant to American Arbitration Association Rules using a single arbitrator. Each contestant waives any rights to challenge this forum and venue or the application of Louisiana law. Should this arbitration agreement be held non-enforceable or in order to enforce an arbitration award, each contestant irrevocably submits and consents to the jurisdiction and venue of the courts located in Orleans Parish, Louisiana and waives any objection that such forum is inconvenient. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Terms and Conditions, participant’s rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of TOTCF in connection with the Competition, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Louisiana, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of Louisiana or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Louisiana. Each contestant agrees that any claim or dispute related to the Competition shall be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, collective, or representative action or as a named or unnamed member in a class, collective, consolidated, or private attorney general action.

Event Organizer: The Competition is brought to you by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, ℅ Taylor & Willis CPAs, 3500 N Causeway Blvd, Suite 1145, Metairie, LA 70002.