The 2010 Taste the Tropics Challenge is owned and coordinated by The Pineapple Group LLC.

Special thanks to our 2010 hosts:   Bacardi USA, Coco Lopez, Cardinal Glass, USBG with a  special thanks to the PRBA. 
Special appreciation to Tony Abou Ganim, who’s training and insights are always innovative, fresh and on target.   If you haven’t purchased a copy of his new book, The Modern Mixologist, please go to www.amazon.com today or visit his website, www.themodernmixologist.com

Click on each logo to visit their websites.

With over 60 years of presence in the United States and International coverage in affiliation with the International Bartender’s Association (IBA) in over 50 countries, the United States Bartenders’ Guild is the largest network of professional bartenders and is setting the standard for the profession throughout the country. The USBG is a non-profit organization founded in 1948 and registered a non-profit organization in 1967 in Southern California. Over the years the guild has expanded nationally and is now in the following cities; Austin, Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Denver, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, St. Louis and continues to grow. Visit www.usbg.org for additional information.

Bacardi U.S.A., Inc., a United States distributor and marketer of premium beverage alcohol products, is a subsidiary of Bacardi Limited. We boast a brand portfolio of some of the most recognized and top selling spirits in the world. Bacardi U.S.A. is best known for BACARDI rum, which has been the number-one selling spirit in the United States for more than 25 years. Bacardi’s roots date back to 1862, when founder Don Facundo Bacardi revolutionized spirits making by producing the world’s first light bodied rum. In addition to BACARDI, the Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. portfolio includes: GREY GOOSE vodka, the world’s favorite super premium vodka; DEWAR’S Scotch, the top selling blended Scotch in the U.S.; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, the top super premium gin in the U.S;.MARTINI & ROSSI vermouth, the favorite vermouth in the world; CAZADORES blue agave tequila, the top selling 100% blue agave tequila in the world and other notable brands and labels. Visit www.bacardi.com for additional information.

The heart of the coconut had long been an important ingredient in many delicious desserts from the tropical islands. The problem was that getting the coconut cream from the pulp was easier said than done. Don Ramon Lopez Irizarry set out to find an easier way of doing this. In his small laboratory in Puerto Rico, he developed the original Coco Lopez by blending the delicious cream from the hearts of Caribbean coconuts with the exact proportion of natural cane sugar.  Suddenly Coco Lopez ® became the basis for a fabulous tropical drink called “Piña Colada” which made its first appearance in 1954. Quite a few bartenders and part-time mixers claim to be the inventors of the “Official Beverage of Puerto Rico.”  Either way, there’s no doubt that the unique combination of Coco Lopez ® Cream of Coconut, pineapple juice and Puerto Rican Rum is the most refreshing tropical cocktail you’ll ever have. In fact, only the original Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut meets the necessary conditions of flavor and consistency to prepare the perfect Piña Colada! Visit www.cocolopez.com for additional information.

The largest tableware company in the world. A key component of the Arc International global portfolio, Cardinal is part of the largest tableware company in the world. With production facilities in France, the United States, Spain, China, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates, Arc International provides tableware on a truly global scale. Over 6 million pieces are produced daily — and make their way to over 160 countries around the globe. Visit http://www.cardinalglass.com for additional information.