From coast to coast, Red Ribbon-tinis were toasted in support of HIV/AIDS service agencies. Bacardi partnered with Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants for events at 11 locations across the country throughout the month to support the “Red Ribbon Campaign.” Bacardi created two specialty cocktails, the Bacardi Limon Red Ribbon-tini and the Bacardi Grand Melon Grand Poinsettia. The campaign will donate financial and in-kind support to local HIV/AIDS service agencies.

Aquafina and Sam’s Club teamed with Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup. More than 2.2 million volunteers at 50 schools in several states collected 37 million PET bottles for recycling. The program supplied incentives for local school-based PET recycling projects. In addition to recycling, participating communities received 100,000 fleece jackets made from recycled PET to distribute to needy children.

This year’s State Fair of Texas featured a unique carnival food offering – fried Coke. Developed by Abel Gonzales, a computer analyst from Dallas, the recipe included batter made with Coca-Cola syrup, strawberry syrup and strawberries. It was then fried to make round, doughnut-like treats that were served with a topping of Coca-Cola syrup, whipped cream, cinnamon sugar and a cherry. Gonzales sold more than 35,000 fried Cokes over 24 days at the state fair and inspired copycats in North Carolina and Arizona.

Samuel Adams named the three winners, two consumers and one employee, in its 2006 American Homebrew Contest. California’s Don Oliver submitted an old ale style named Little Beast. Bruce Stott of Massachusetts won with his Dortmunder Export. Samuel Adams employee Ken Smith’s Wheat with BOY-senberry also won. The beers will be distributed in Samuel Adams’ LongShot variety six-pack, available early next year.

Budweiser Select hopes twentysomethings will be finishing Jay Z’s rap song “Can I Get A…” with Bud Select. Anheuser-Busch has signed the rapper as co-brand director. The Chicago Tribune reported hip-hop artist and business mogul, Jay Z, will provide insights and development ideas for the brand. The artist also loaned his new single, “Show Me What You Got,” to a Budweiser Select commercial. The ad also features NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Indy Racing League driver Danica Patrick.

Smirnoff Twisted V brought winter a little early to New York City with a giant block of ice to mark the launch of its newest flavor, Arctic Berry. Former Miss USA and “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Shanna Moakler was on hand to mark the occasion. Moakler sailed with the miniature glacier and delivered the first shipment of Arctic Berry to New Yorkers.