The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board is inviting food and drink lovers from across the UK to create their own rum cocktail, with the top tipple winning a luxury seven night holiday to The British Virgin Islands.

This summer The BVIs will come alive with food, drink and celebration as Islanders and visitors take to the streets to celebrate the anniversary of the 60th Emancipation Festival. The streets of The Islands will be transformed by food and drink fairs, music, parades, street jamming, gospel celebrations and much more.

So, to kick off the celebrations the Tourist Board is inviting everyone to compete to create their own BVI inspired rum cocktail and bring the party spirit of the islands alive in their own homes. To find out how to enter, please visit www.bvitourism.co.uk/bviparty 

During the two weeks of festivities (from 28 July - 9 August), anyone can join in with the BVI discussion online by using the hashtag #BVIParty to share competition entries, Caribbean recipes and party ideas on social media.

The ten best mixologists will be selected by our first-class team of cocktail tasters and will receive a BVI goody bag. The top cocktail connoisseur will then be chosen to receive the top prize - round trip flights to The BVI with five nights' accommodation at Biras Creek Resort and two nights at Oil Nut Bay.

The BVIs are fast gaining a reputation as a haven for food lovers looking for a holiday destination that allows them to indulge in the gastronomic delights of The Islands' fresh produce, quality cuisine, fabulous restaurants and potent rum cocktails.

From delicious barbeques at Foxy's Bar serving up BBQ chicken, lip-smackingly good ribs and Mahi Mahi, to mouth-watering healthy seafood at Peter Island Resort & Spa, and local dishes including Roti, Peas soup, and the famous Anegada lobster reputed to be the best in the Caribbean, The BVIs fuse Caribbean flair and West Indian influences to produce some of the world's most exciting cuisine.

Notes to editors

The British Virgin Islands are made up of 60 islands, cays and islets located in the North Eastern Caribbean. Tortola is the largest island, and home of the BVI's capital Road Town. Anegada meaning "Drowned Land" is the second largest and is the only non-volcanic island. This tranquil island's highest point is just 28 feet above sea level. Other islands include Virgin Gorda, home to The Baths and the third largest island in the chain. The rugged island of Jost Van Dyke is named after an early Dutch settler reputed to have been a pirate.

The British Virgin Islands can be reached via connecting flights through other Caribbean airports including Antigua, St Thomas, Puerto Rico, St Kitts or St Maarten. From the UK a number of airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, offer scheduled flights to Antigua with connecting flights to Tortola available with LIAT, VI Airlink or by private charter flight. Island hopping is made easy with frequent, speedy and efficient ferry services from Tortola to Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Anegada and Peter Island. www.bvitourism.co.uk 

New Airlink

VI Airlink is owned and operated in the BVI and provides exclusive private air charter for connection flights between Antigua and Beef Island, Tortola. The twice a week flights on Fridays and Saturdays, start from the 31st of October 2014 and connect with the arrival/departure of scheduled British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights between London Gatwick and Antigua. For further information visit www.viairlink.com 

For further media information, please contact Eloise Evans or Leah Rosewell at ADPR +44 (0) 1460 241641 or email: eloise@adpr.co.uk or leah@adpr.co.uk