Courvoisier Connoisseurs 2025 Competition Rules

Courvoisier Connoisseurs 2025
Competition Rules
These are the terms and conditions (“Rules”) that apply to the “Courvoisier Connoisseurs 2025 Competition (“Competition”). By entering, each participant agrees to these Rules and confirms they have read and understood our Privacy Notice at https://www.camparigroup.info/policies/ENG_Campari.pdf.
In particular please see the “Publicity Rights” section, which explains the publicity rights that you grant to us, the “Liability” section, which explains how we limit our liability to you, and the “Tax consequences” section, which explains the potential tax treatment of the prize.
1.
Promoter: Glen Grant Limited t/a Campari UK, a company registered in the United Kingdom (company no. SC292101) with its registered office address at Glen Grant Distillery, Rothes, Morayshire, AB38 7BS (“Promoter”). Postal correspondence must be sent to 14-16 Great Portland Street, London W1W 8QW.
2.
Entry period: The Competition entry period (“Entry Period”) is as follows:
a.
Register your interest: Interest must be registered between 09:00 on 11 March and 23:59 on 27 April 2025 to receive detailed submission instructions. Participants will then be required to submit their cocktail submission by e-mail to CourvoisierCompetition@Campari.com. See Section 6.a.i for more details of how to register interest.
b.
Cocktail submission: The cocktail design and other entry materials must be submitted between 09:00 on 1 April and 23:59 on 18 May 2025 (inclusive). See Section 6.a.ii for more details of how to submit an entry.
3.
Eligibility: To participate in this Competition, all participants must, at the time of entry, be: (i) at least 18 years of age; (ii) a professional bartender and eligible to work in Great Britain; and (iii) a legal resident of Great Britain. The Competition is not open to employees, contractors, past employees and past contractors of Promoter or any promotion administrator or prize provider, their families and households and anyone else professionally involved or associated with the Promotion. Promoter reserves the right at any time to require proof of eligibility in such form as Promoter reasonably considers necessary.
4.
Limits on entry: A limit of one (1) entry per person applies to this Competition. Multiple entries will be rejected. Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any person who enters more than once, including where multiple accounts are used.
5.
How the Competition works: There are three (3) stages in this Competition. as follows:
a.
Qualifying Stage: The first stage is a qualifying stage, during which eligible participants apply online (as set out in Section 0 below) for one of 10 places to compete in person at the Semi-Final.
b.
Semi-Final: The second stage is the Semi-Final, where the successful participants from the Qualifying Stage will compete together in a 2-part heat for a chance to earn one of three places in the Grand Final:
i.
BCB LONDON: Successful participants will take to the Courvoisier stand at BCB London for a 1 hour guest shift where they will serve 50ml samples of their cocktail entry to be judged by BCB London audiences.
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ii.
Successful participants will take part in a formal cocktail presentation at a central London venue (TBC), to be judged by a mix of Campari Academy staff and independent judges.
c.
Grand Final: The third and final stage is the Courvoisier Connoisseurs Final, which brings together the top 3 Semi-Finalists to compete together in a live cocktail-making competition in Jarnac, France at Maison Courvoisier for a chance to be crowned the Courvoisier Connoisseur 2025.
6.
Participation in the Qualifying Stage:
a.
How to enter: To enter the Qualifying Stage, eligible participants must:
i.
Register their interest via the Campari Academy website. All participants must register their interest to take part in the Competition by completing the online form available at https://www.campariacademy.com/en-uk/events/courvoisier-connoisseurs-2025/ between 09:00 on 11 March 2025 and 23:59 on 27 April 2025 (inclusive). Participants will be required to submit: (a) their full name; (b) a contact email address; (c) a contact postal address; (d) their date of birth; and (e) the name of the on-trade venue where they are currently employed.
ii.
Design and submit a cocktail that celebrates the moment they ‘made it’. The cocktail design must be submitted by the participant between 09:00 on 1 April and 23:59 on 18 May 2025 (inclusive) by e-mailing their entry to CourvoisierCompetition@Campari.com. The submission must detail the full recipe and ingredients of the cocktail and include an image of the finished cocktail. It must be submitted together with a story about the cocktail creation and the inspiration behind it and an explanation of how the participant would spend the winner’s prize (£10,000 to support their bartending career).
b.
Cocktail requirements: The following conditions apply to the participant’s Courvoisier-based cocktail:
i.
it must be the participant’s own original creation, inspired by the moment they knew they had made it as a bartender;
ii.
it must include at least 30ml of Courvoisier VSOP Cognac;
iii.
it may (but is not required to) include other base spirits from the Campari Group portfolio (for more information, see https://www.camparigroup.com/en/pages/brands);
iv.
it may (but is not required to) include homemade ingredients (e.g. Syrups/Cordials), provided these are included in the recipe and easy to replicate; and
v.
it may (but is not required to) include non-Campari Group brands where necessary.
c.
Story requirements: Stories must be no more than 400 words in length and must include the detailed recipe and method for the serves in English and an explanation of how the participant would spend the £10,000 prize to support their bartending career.
d.
Participant assurances: By entering the Competition, each participant confirms that they have not done anything or made any public statement (oral or in writing) that could reasonably be regarded as derogatory or disparaging of Promoter or its products or services and that they know of no information, facts or circumstances related in any way to the participant that could reasonably be considered damaging or embarrassing to Promoter by virtue of the association between Promoter and the participant arising from entry into the Competition. By entering, participants also confirm their agreement
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to the
Campari Group Code of Ethics and the Campari Group Code On Commercial Communication.
e.
Judging process: All submissions will be assessed by a panel of experts that will include one (1) independent judge. The judging panel will select 10 successful participants to progress to the Semi-Final, based on points awarded for creativity, approachability, cocktail quality and the quality of the accompanying story. A total of 25 points will be allocated for each category, giving a total of 100 available points. The production quality of the supporting images will not influence the judging process and will not be scored.
f.
Participant selection and ties: The successful participants progressing to the Semi-Final will be the highest-scoring participants, based on the above judging criteria. If the scores in this category are tied, the tie will be decided by the independent judge. The decisions of the judges are final. Individual scores will not be disclosed to participants.
g.
Notification: All successful participants will be notified by email no more than 14 days after the end of the Entry Period. Promoter will make reasonable efforts to contact the successful participants, but it is each individual’s responsibility to monitor their email account (including any junk mail folders) for receipt of the notification. Unsuccessful participants will not be notified.
7.
Participation in the Semi-Final:
a.
Location and timing: The Semi-Final will take place at BCB London (held at Tobacco Dock) and one other Central London location over two days, on 30th June and 1st July 2025. BCB London runs on 30th June and 1st July 2025 but participants will only need to attend their allocated one-hour slot on one of those two days. All participants must attend the second event, which will be a formal cocktail presentation held at a Central London location on the evening of 1st July 2025. Allocated slots, locations and other Semi-Final details will be sent to successful participants in the email notification following the Qualifying Stage. The conditions set out in Section 9 will apply to all Semi-Final participants.
b.
Semi-Final format: The Semi-Final will consist of two (2) rounds: the BCB Guest Shift at BCB London; and a Formal Cocktail Presentation at another Central London location:
i.
Guest shift on the Courvoisier stand for 1 hour. During this time, they will serve 50ml samples of their cocktail to the BCB audience.
ii.
Formal cocktail presentation. Held on the last evening of BCB London where each participant will present their original Courvoisier Connoisseurs cocktail creation to our panel of judges.
c.
Judging process: The 2 heats of the Semi-Final will be judged as follows:
i.
BCB LONDON GUEST SHIFT (200 POINTS)
o
Cocktail Flavour (100 points) – As voted by BCB audience, who will score the cocktail sample flavour out of 100. All audience scores will then be averaged.
o
Audience Interaction (100 points) – Judged by Campari Academy Team and an independent judge, based on the following criteria:
•
Did the participant convey the story of their cocktail whilst serving the samples.
•
Did they explain the flavour profile and reasoning.
•
Did they express knowledge on Courvoisier VSOP.
ii.
FORMAL COCKTAIL PRESENTATION (100 points)
o
Taste (25 points)
o
Concept and style (25 points)
o
Use of Ingredients (25 points)
o
Presentation (25 points)
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d.
Winner selection and ties: After the conclusion of the Semi-Final events, the top 3 highest-scoring participants will proceed to the Grand Final, based on the above judging criteria. Any tie will be decided by the independent judge. The decisions of the judges are final. Individual scores will not be disclosed to participants
e.
Notification: The 3 successful participants in the Semi-Final will be disclosed to participants in person at the event. Confirmation in writing, including details of the Grand Final, will be sent by email within five (5) working days of the end of the Semi-Final. Unsuccessful participants will not be notified.
8.
Participation in the Grand Final:
a.
Location and timing: The Grand Final will be held in Jarnac, France, over three days in September/October 2025. The precise timings and other details of the Grand Final will be notified to Semi-Final winners in the email notification following the Semi-Final. The conditions set out in Section 9 will apply to all Grand Final participants.
b.
Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final format: The Grand Final will consist of a 2 night, 3 day immersion trip to Maison Courvoisier, which will culminate in a Gala Dinner and a cocktail presentation to a panel of independent judges. Details of the requirements for the cocktail presentation will be provided to Semi-Final winners in the email notification following the Semi-Final.
c.
Judging process: Participants will be judged by a panel of experts that will include one (1) independent judge. The judging panel will select one (1) winner, based on points awarded for creativity, presentation, technique, and flavour. A total of 25 points will be allocated for each category, giving a total of 100 available points.
d.
Winner selection and ties: The Courvoisier Connoisseur Grand Final winner will be the highest-scoring participant, based on the above judging criteria. Any tie will be decided by the independent judge. The decisions of the judges are final. Individual scores will not be disclosed to participants.
e.
Notification: The winner of the Grand Final will be announced and notified in person at the end of the Grand Final. Confirmation in writing will be sent by email within five (5) working days of the end of the Grand Final.
9.
Conditions of participation at the Semi-Final and Grand Final
a.
Ingredients and equipment: The promoter will provide access to any Campari portfolio ingredients but participants will be required to provide all other ingredients for their cocktail batch, including any home-made syrups/cordials. Participants will be required to prepare in advance (i) A 5 litre batch of their cocktail to use as samples at BCB and (ii) 2 Full size samples for judging in the formal presentation round. If participants require facilities to prepare their batches and samples, they must notify Promoter when accepting their place.
b.
Promoter’s instructions: Participants must at all times follow the instructions of Promoter at the Semi-Final and Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final, including in relation to the operation of any equipment provided.
c.
Health and safety: Participants must at all times behave in a safe and prudent manner for their own safety and the safety of others while participating at the Semi-Final and Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final. Participants must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the Semi-Final and Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final, any Participants found to be so will immediately be disqualified.
d.
Physical activity: Each participant acknowledges that participation at the Semi-Final and Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final involves physical activity and that there is therefore a risk of personal injury and/or property damage. Each participant
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acknowledges that it is their sole responsibility to determine whether they are
sufficiently fit and healthy to participate safely at the Semi-Final and Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final. By participating, each participant confirms that they are not suffering from any condition, impairment, disease or infirmity or other illness that would prevent their participation at the Semi-Final and Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final.
e.
Publicity: Each participant acknowledges that the Semi-Final and Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final will be photographed and filmed and that photographs, video footage and other material featuring and/or referring to the participants may be used as described in the “Publicity Rights” section below.
f.
Unforeseen events/circumstances: If something beyond Promoter’s control occurs, which (in Promoter’s reasonable opinion) makes it unsafe, unlawful, impossible or unfair for participants to continue, Promoter shall be entitled to discontinue and stop the Semi-Final or the Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final and continue it at another time or day in its sole discretion.
10.
Travel arrangements and costs of attending the Semi-Final and Grand Final
a.
Participants are solely responsible for ensuring that they are able to attend the Semi-Final and Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final on the relevant dates, including having valid passports and any visas required. No alternative dates are available.
b.
For the Semi-Final, Promoter will be responsible for arranging at its own cost each participant’s travel to and from the Semi-Final only for those participants based outside of London. This includes economy air or overland transport (as applicable), overnight accommodation, standard single occupancy at a minimum three-star hotel and set meals.
c.
For the Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final, Promoter will be responsible for arranging at its own cost each participant’s travel to and from the Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final, to include economy air or overland transport (as applicable), overnight accommodation at Maison Courvoisier, standard single occupancy) and set meals.
d.
All bookings must be made by Promoter and any mode of transport, travel route and accommodation choices shall be strictly at the discretion of Promoter. Promoter shall not be responsible for any costs where the participant makes their own travel, accommodation or other arrangements. Any travel tickets or accommodation vouchers arranged directly by Promoter will be sent to the winner as e-tickets or e-vouchers within a reasonable time prior to travel. The participant is solely responsible for the safekeeping of their tickets as replacements cannot be issued.
e.
This Competition is time sensitive and therefore if a participant fails to provide, within 14 days of Promoter’s request, sufficient details enabling Promoter to make the relevant bookings for attendance at the Semi-Final and Grand Final, Promoter reserves the right to disqualify the participant from the Competition.
f.
Participants are solely responsible for all arrangements and all associated costs and expenses arising from participation in the Competition that are not expressly set out above, including: (i) any additional transportation and any travel upgrades or excess baggage; (ii) any additional food and beverages; (iii) any additional accommodation; (iv) travel and medical insurance, visas and any other required travel documents; (v) any required COVID-19 related testing, passes, certificates or quarantining; (vi) any discretionary spending; (vii) hotel minibar, laundry and room service; and (viii) tips and gratuities.
g.
Participants will be subject to, and must comply at all times with, any terms and conditions imposed by any relevant airline, hotel or other organisation connected to
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this Competition. The
participants must review and comply with these terms and conditions in order to participate.
h.
Promoter will have no liability to the participant if the participant is unable to attend the Semi-Final and/or Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final, or is denied entry to, or is asked to leave, any venue or event as a result of a failure to abide by these Rules, any applicable venue or event terms and/or any applicable law, or as a result of inappropriate behaviour.
11.
Prize: The Courvoisier Connoisseur2025 will receive £10,000 cash to be used towards their bartending career. The cash prize will be paid by bank transfer to a bank account (in the winner’s own name) within 30 days of Promoter’s receipt of a valid prize claim.
12.
Tax consequences: Participants acknowledge that there may be tax consequences arising from the award of the prize and that they are solely responsible for the reporting and payment of all taxes (if any) arising out of or related to the distribution and receipt of the prize. If necessary, please consult a tax adviser for further advice.
13.
Prize Conditions: The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and non-exchangeable. However, if it becomes necessary for reasons beyond Promoter’s control, the prize (or any part of it) may be varied or swapped for a suitable alternative in Promoter’s discretion.
14.
Prize claims: The winner must claim their prize by providing any information requested by Promoter within 14 days of the request. This information will include bank details to enable Promoter to pay the cash prize to the winner. The winner is solely responsible for providing the correct information to Promoter and should therefore check all information provided carefully. If amendments are required as a result of the winner’s error, the winner is responsible for any administrative costs incurred and Promoter is not responsible for errors made by any winner.
15.
Forfeiture and selection of alternative winner: Failure to claim the prize within the deadline stated above (whether by failing to respond at all or by providing incomplete or incorrect information) may result in the prize being forfeited and awarded to an alternative winner, who will be the next highest-scoring participant. Any alternative winner will be notified as set out above and must claim their prize in accordance with the process and deadlines set out above. Given the nature of the Competition, if a Semi-Final winner forfeits their place in the Grand Final or is otherwise disqualified, their place in the Grand Final will be awarded to the next highest-scoring participant.
16.
Publicity rights:
a.
Each participant acknowledges that photographs and live video will be captured by or on behalf of Promoter at the Semi-Final and Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final (“Event Content”) and that such Event Content may feature the participant’s individual participation. All rights in and to any Event Content shall belong to Promoter.
b.
In consideration of the opportunity to participate at the Semi-Final and Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final, each participant grants to Promoter and its group companies, affiliates, agents and designees (and each of their successors and assigns) (collectively, the “Licensed Parties”) the right to use, and sub-license other to use: (i) Event Content featuring the participant’s image, likeness, voice, statements and performance (“Contribution”); (ii) the participant’s name and any relevant biographical information; (iii) the participant’s entry; and (iv) the participant’s story about their cocktail creation (including the name and recipe of the participant’s cocktail creation), for advertising,
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marketing, promotional, public relations and any other lawful purposes
relating to the Competition, in any and all media worldwide, for a period unlimited in time and without further approval, consent or payment.
c.
Each participant agrees that their Contribution may be combined with text, music, sound, graphics and other content, and cut, altered, modified, cropped, edited or dubbed into another language without notice.
d.
Each participant irrevocably and unconditionally waives (and agrees not to assert or enforce), in favour of the Licensed Parties, all moral rights, performers’ rights and similar rights they may have in relation to their Contribution, their video entry and their story about their cocktail creation (including the name and recipe of the participant’s cocktail creation), arising under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction.
e.
For the avoidance of doubt, each participant agrees that, in the event of a win in the Semi-Final and/or the Grand Final, the Licensed Parties shall be entitled (but not obliged) to announce the participant’s name, details of their cocktail creation and any prize awarded on the websites, social media and other channels of the Licensed Parties.
f.
The participant may also be asked (without further obligation or reward) to take part in reasonable publicity connected with the Competition.
17.
Liability:
a.
Nothing in these Rules limits or excludes any person’s liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud or for any matter for which liability cannot be lawfully limited or excluded.
b.
Subject to section 17.a above, by entering the Competition, each participant (on their own behalf and on behalf of their executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin, successors and assigns) hereby releases and forever discharges, and agrees not to threaten or pursue any claim against, Promoter and its group companies, affiliates, agents and designees and any entity associated with administering the Competition (and each of their successors and assigns) (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against:
(i)
any and all liability arising from the participant’s death, disability, personal injury or actions of any kind which may occur during or in connection with the Competition (except to the extent caused by the negligence of the Released Parties); and
(ii)
any other loss or damage the participant may suffer or incur as a result of the participant’s participation in the Competition and/or acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a prize (or any part).
c.
In particular, subject to section 17.a above, the Released Parties will not be liable for:
(i)
any loss or damage caused by a third party who is not acting on behalf of or under the direct instructions of the Released Parties;
(ii)
any loss or damage occurring as a result of the winner taking up and using any third-party product or service forming part of a prize (except where caused by the negligence of the Released Parties);
(iii)
any loss or damage caused by any event or circumstance beyond the reasonable control of the Released Parties; and
(iv)
any business losses, including (without limit) loss of profits or revenue, loss of anticipated savings or loss of goodwill.
18.
No endorsement: The Competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with any third party. All third-party trademarks and other intellectual property rights are hereby acknowledged. By participating in the Competition, participants are providing their information to Promoter, not to any third party. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, no third party shall have any liability to any participant in
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connection with or arising out of the
Competition howsoever caused, including for any costs, expenses, damages and other liabilities.
19.
Cancellation and variation: Promoter reserves the right to vary, suspend or cancel the Competition and/or these Rules if it considers it necessary or appropriate to do so, including if there is any actual or anticipated breach of applicable law or if variation, suspension or cancellation is necessary due to an event outside Promoter’s reasonable control. In the event of cancellation, the prize may be awarded to a winner selected from entries received prior to cancellation.
20.
Disqualification: Without limiting the options available to Promoter, Promoter reserves the right at any time to disqualify any entries or participants that Promoter regards as being in breach of these Rules, any applicable laws, any terms and conditions referred to in these Rules and/or the spirit of the Competition. In particular, Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any participant who, in Promoter’s reasonable opinion: (i) is not eligible or otherwise competent to participate in the Competition; (ii) fails to comply fully with the health and safety instructions and requirements applicable to the Competition; (iii) poses a risk to the health and safety of themselves and/or others or (iv) acts in a way that could reasonably be considered damaging, detrimental or prejudicial to the Promoter.
21.
Interference with the Competition: Any attempt to damage or undermine the content or legitimate operation of the Competition is prohibited and may also be a violation of criminal and/or civil laws. Promoter reserves all its rights and remedies to deal with breaches or suspected breaches of this section including, without limitation, to exclude any participant or winner believed to be associated with such activity.
22.
Disclosure of winner details: By entering the Competition, each participant acknowledges that in the event of a win their surname and county of residence may be disclosed to persons enquiring, where permitted by law. Any participant may object to their information being made available in this way or may request that the amount of information made available be reduced, by contacting Promoter using the contact details at the end of these Rules. In these circumstances, the participant acknowledges that Promoter may nevertheless disclose the relevant information, and the participant’s entry, to the Advertising Standards Authority (and/or any other competent authority) if required to do so. This may happen where Promoter is required to demonstrate that it has awarded the prize advertised. To request disclosure of winner details, enquirers must submit a request to CourvoisierCompeition@campari.com no later than one (1) month after the end of the Courvoisier Connoisseurs Grand Final. Details will only be disclosed (if permitted by law) after the prize has been awarded.
23.
Accessing these Rules: Any website on which these Rules are posted is only intended to be accessed from eligible countries and where permitted by law. Promoter makes no representation that materials relating to the Competition are appropriate or available for use at other locations. Access to them from territories where their contents are illegal is strictly prohibited.
24.
Severance and waiver: If any provision of these Rules is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of that provision will not affect the remaining provisions of these Rules, which will remain in full force and effect. Promoter’s failure to enforce any provision of these Rules will not constitute a waiver of that provision.
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25.
Disputes: Subject to the “Law and Jurisdiction” section below, if there is a dispute about the Competition or these Rules, Promoter’s decisions are final. If there is a dispute between these Rules and any other document referred to in these Rules, these Rules take precedence to the extent necessary to resolve the conflict.
26.
Law and jurisdiction: The laws of England and Wales will apply to these Rules and the Competition. The courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim relating to these Rules and the Competition, except that residents of Scotland may bring and defend claims in their local courts.
27.
Personal data: Participants acknowledge that any personal data of participants processed in connection with the Competition will be processed in accordance with Promoter’s Privacy Notice, which is available at https://www.camparigroup.info/policies/ENG_Campari.pdf. Participants acknowledge that Promoter will need to share personal data with relevant transport providers, hotels, and other suppliers and that such third parties will process the personal data of the participant as independent data controllers in accordance with their own privacy notices.
28.
Contact: Enquiries about the Competition can be sent to Promoter at: CourvoisierCompetition@campari.com.