DEERFIELD, Ill., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- With the game day ad frenzy rounding the corner, Jim Beam(R) is out to prove that the funniest ads aren't always created by the pros.

The world's number one selling bourbon is looking for funny people to enter the Jim Beam "The Remake" Contest, its new consumer-generated video contest, offering a grand prize of $25,000, a trip for four to Las Vegas, and a chance to have your video showcased on JimBeam.com. Four runners-up prizes, Sony(R) HD Digital Video Cameras, will also be awarded. Aspiring filmmakers, actors, comedians and your "Average Jims" are encouraged to enter "The Remake" or "Best Story" categories.

"The Remake" category challenges legal purchase age consumers to create and upload spoofed versions of three Jim Beam commercials -- "The Girlfriend," which premiered in the U.S. on January 19 on sports networks like ESPN(R) and TNT, "The Party" and "The Tragedy." The commercials are a tongue-in-cheek look at the "Average Jim's" fantasy girlfriend, party and tragedy. There will also be a "Best Story" winner for the most creative individual who uses humor and imagination instead of fancy video production equipment to create a successful commercial. The prize for "Best Story" is a Flip(TM) Mino video camera.

"We're looking for people who are talented and funny to spoof these videos and win some great prizes," said Rory Finlay, global chief marketing officer, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. "Every guy has his own idea of the perfect girlfriend, party or tragedy -- and often these ideas are wholly unrealistic and hilarious. Jim Beam is putting a call out to consumers -- show us your idea of 'perfect.' Bring your funniest fantasies to life, or just tell us about them, and you could win."

Consumers have the option to use a Director's Toolbox of pre-approved fonts, sound clips and logos to create their innovative videos. Personal promotion buttons, embeddable content and widgets will allow both contest viewers and participants to start their own viral campaigns for their favorite video through social media sites.

Consumer videos will be accepted January 22, 2009, through March 21, 2009, at which point five Finalists for "Best Remake" and one "Best Story" will be selected. The five Finalists for "Best Remake" will be selected by a panel of judges based on creativity (33.3%), use of humor (33.3%), and originality (33.3%). These criteria, as well as a round of public voting on the Jim Beam website from April 8 to May 8, will decide the grand prize winner and runners- up. In order to determine the Grand Prize Winner, the judges will take into consideration the score each Finalist received in the Initial Judging phase, and the number of valid votes each Finalist received during the Public Voting Period. The following weights will be assigned to the judging score and the vote totals: Judging Score -- 75 percent (75%); Public Vote totals -- 25 percent (25%). On the basis thereof, the judges will declare one (1) Grand Prize Winner. The "Best Story" winner will be selected by a panel of judges based on humor (50%), creativity (25%), and originality (25%). There is no public voting for "Best Story."

Contest showcases Jim Beam's social media leadership in the spirits industry

"Jim Beam is leading the spirits industry through our use of social media," said Kelly Doss, senior director Bourbon and Whiskeys, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. "Leaders are expected to innovate, and the Girlfriend commercial and Remake contest do just that. The use of user-generated content is another big step forward for our industry."

Jim Beam is the first in the spirits industry to:

-- Use micro-blogging through Twitter(TM), attracting an estimated 20,000 viewers during the "Baja 1000" for updates on Jim Beam-sponsored racecar driver, Robby Gordon.

-- Create a website that allowed users to comment on subject matter, establishing Jim Beam as the first public "conversational" brand in the industry.

-- Initiate a social media call to action through an online petition and viral widget urging fans to "Save Our Ballpark's Name" in support of Wrigley Field.

"Jim Beam consumers -- young men of legal purchase age -- are living much of their lives online," says Doss. "We know how important it is relate to guys on their own terms, in their own environment. Research shows this contest will do just that; now it's up to the guys to decide."

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or D.C. (except CA) and 21 years of age or older to participate. Void where prohibited. Subject to complete official rules, available at jimbeam.com. Contest begins on January 22, 2009 at 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). Online entries must be transmitted and received by March 21, 2009 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET.

For more information, please visit http://www.JimBeam.com/TheRemake or http://www.thestuffinside.com/press.

About Beam Global Spirits & Wine:

Inspiring conversations around the world, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., is building brands people want to talk about. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam(R) Bourbon, Sauza(R) Tequila, Canadian Club(R) Whisky, Courvoisier(R) Cognac, Maker's Mark(R) Bourbon, Laphroaig(R) Scotch Whisky, Cruzan (R) Rum, Larios(R) Gin, Whisky DYC(R), Teacher's(R) Scotch Whisky, DeKuyper(R) Cordials and Liqueurs, Knob Creek(R) Bourbon and Starbucks(TM) Liqueurs. Beam Global Spirits & Wine is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), a leading consumer brands company with annual sales exceeding $8 billion. For more information on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit http://www.beamglobal.com and http://www.drinksmart.com.



         Jim Beam(R) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 40% Alc./Vol.

(C)2008 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY.

SOURCE Jim Beam