Apple & Eve ended its quest for the next big folk music star in the second annual Apple & Eve Newport Folk Festival Talent Search, with the selection of Rachel Garlin of Berkeley, Calif. Garlin was singled out for her insightful lyrics, expressive vocals and powerful performance. The nationwide search was presented by Stop & Shop, and as the winner, Garlin was given the opportunity to play on the main stage at the Folk Festival, held August 7 at the Newport Fort Adams State Park. She performed her original song “Tom’s Song” to a crowd of 5,000.

The Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., has created three politically inspired cocktails — the Kerry Berry Kosmo, the “W”tini and the Kurant Affair — and will let customers vote for their favorite. Available at the hotel’s Degrees bar, the Kerry Berry Kosmo is a blend of Stoli Strasberi, Stoli Razberi, cranberry juice, grenadine and Sprite. The “W”tini is made from Stoli Ohranj, Blue Curacao and Sprite; and the Kurant Affair is made from Absolut Kurant, Chambord, cranberry juice and Sprite. The cocktails will be available until Nov. 1.

Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, is getting ready for fall with an off-premise campaign that encourages “Miller High Life Men” to get outside, enjoy the change of seasons and “gather ’round the High Life”. To help them embrace the cooler weather, consumers will have the chance to win a patio fire pit (where legal). Promotional materials will include point-of-sale displays for Miller High Life and High Life Light.

Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages is working with Airborne Entertainment for a Snapple Real Facts under-the-cap trivia campaign that will allow consumers to “create the best mobile phone stuff on earth.” Snapple consumers will be able to download games applications, wallpapers and animated ringers on their phones. Airborne’s line-up of Snapple products will be available in the fall on wireless carriers across North America, and additional products will be released throughout the year.

Molson USA is helping consumers connect with the opposite sex, with three new on-premise promotions. “We know that our account partners want promotions that give them flexibility, which is why we’ve created 12 months of turnkey programs that allow them to work Molson into their business plans as they see fit,” says Kurt Kane, brand director for Molson USA.

Programs include Molson Chiller Beach Parties, offering beach-themed gear such as towels, sun visors, beach balls and bikinis; Hot Summer Nights, with point-of-sale materials featuring hot tub etiquette tips and the chance to win a Molson hot tub; and Lookin’ Lucky, that lets male consumers win new clothes through scratch-and-win cards and an online tie-in that will give one consumer an entirely new wardrobe.

Diageo has presented the Golden Bar Awards to distributors for outstanding performance in the marketplace and for the roles they play in their communities. Top distributors were given 24-karat gold awards, standing more than a foot tall, and the awards ceremony included a surprise performance by comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

Diageo’s Distributor of the Year — Wine & Spirits award went to Pacific Wine & Spirits, California; and Distributor of the Year — Beer was given to Harbor Distributing, also of California. Other winners included: Spirits Excellence — Smirnoff, Colony Liquor & Wine Distributors, New York; Spirits Excellence — Jose Cuervo, Major Brands, Missouri; Spirits Excellence — Captain Morgan, Pacific Wine & Spirits, California; Spirits Excellence — Crown Royal, National Wine & Spirits, Indiana; Spirits Excellence — Baileys, Glazer’s of Iowa; Spirits Excellence — Johnnie Walker, Coastal Wine & Spirits, Florida; Spirits Excellence — Tanqueray, Alliance Beverage, Arizona; Wines Excellence — Beaulieu Vineyard, Pacific Wine & Spirits, California; Wines Excellence — Sterling Vineyards, Southern Wine & Spirits, Florida; On-Premise Excellence Award — Spirits, Reliable Churchill, Maryland; On-Premise Excellence Award — Wine, Alliance Beverage, Arizona; Best New Launch — Spirits, Glazer’s of Texas; Best New Launch — Wine, Pacific Wines & Spirits, California; Beer Excellence — Guinness, Lee Distributors, South Carolina; Beer Excellence — Smirnoff Ice, Gate City Beverage, California; On-Premise Excellence — Beer, Beechwood Distributors, Wisconsin; Best New Launch — Beer, JJ Taylor Distributors, Florida; Corporate Citizenship Excellence, the United Group, Massachusetts.

Brown Forman will hold what it calls the world’s most prestigious barbecue competition, the Jack Daniel’s World Championship International Barbecue, culminating on Oct. 23 with more than 50 teams from the United States and abroad competing in Lynchburg, Tenn., for the title of Grand Champion. In order to qualify, the competing teams must have won a state championship or a previous competition with more than 50 teams competing. The distillery has hosted the competition, which has attracted barbecue teams from as far as Japan, Ireland and Australia, for 16 years.

Corona Champ Car driver Rodolfo Lavin celebrated a second-place finish, the Corona car’s best yet, at the Grand Prix of Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wis. Corona-maker, Modelo, became the primary backer of the Corona Champ car last year. Pictured are: Lavin; Forsythe Racing Team owner Gerald Forsythe and Bill Hackett, president of Barton Beers, importer of Modelo products in the Western United States.