The winner of the first NFL Pro-American Football Rookie Award in 2002 and a two time Pro-Football Champion, Shockey will aim to bring all his skills from the football field to the high-octane competition. Covering over 100 miles in one day, the epic adventure race will include rock climbing, white water rafting, downhill mountain biking, kayaking and buggy racing.

In anticipation of his first visit to Scotland, Jeremy Shockey said “The Drambuie Pursuit is an incredible opportunity to showcase athletic prowess and endurance.. I look  forward to putting together an unbeatable team to tackle the Scottish Highlands and knock out the competition.”

Previously with the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants, Shockey signed a multi-million dollar deal with the Carolina Panthers in early March 2011. As part of his participation in the Drambuie Pursuit, Jeremy will be making a donation to the Heath Evans Foundation. Founded by Jeremy’s teammate, Heath Evans, the foundation is dedicated to fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and families affected by sexual abuse.

Will Birkin, Senior Brand Manager for Drambuie commented “We are excited to see the level of competitiveness Jeremy will bring to the Drambuie Pursuit, as this is the second time we have enlisted a professional athlete having used Lawrence Dallaglio in 2009. 2010 has been an exciting year for revitalising and modernising the brand, and we look forward to continuing that momentum by enjoying the participation of a star from the NFL in the 2011 Drambuie Pursuit.”

The UK teams who will be competing against Team Jeremy all secured their place in the competition as they were the teams with the most public votes for their team application. The team with the most votes, UtRAFast, made up of four RAF servicemen, were rewarded with a £2,500 donation from Drambuie to the charity of their choice, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. The RAF’s largest welfare charity provider the RAFBF provides far reaching support for serving and former members of the RAF and their families.

The race is inspired by events that took place more than 260 years ago. In 1746 after a failed attempt to claim the British throne, Bonnie Prince Charlie was pursued across the highlands by the Government forces but escaped with the help of his loyal clansmen. In gratitude for their help he passed on the top secret recipe for his personal elixir which became Drambuie.

The spirit of Drambuie lives on and over the years this unique whisky liqueur has been passed down through generations carrying with it a sense of adventure, culminating in this exciting event. Today people around the world are enjoying Drambuie served long with & ginger beer; know as The Drambuie Ginger Nail, a refreshing twist on the classic Drambuie cocktail The Rusty Nail.

For more information on Drambuie Pursuit please visit: www.drambuie.co.uk/pursuit

Source: www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk

NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — DRAMBUIE® announced today that Jeremy Shockey, tight end for the defending champion New Orleans Saints, will compete in the 2011 DRAMBUIE Pursuit, a legendary, outdoor adventure race across the wild terrain of the Scottish highlands. Shockey, the winner of the first-ever pro football rookie award in 2002 and a two-time pro football champion, is no stranger to rugged and aggressive competition – and looks forward to bringing his skills on the football field to the field of competition in the 2011 DRAMBUIE Pursuit.  Seeking to compile an elite team of fierce athletes and modern-day rebels, Shockey will lead a group through the terrain in the footsteps of the legendary Scottish Prince, Bonnie Prince Charlie (also known as Prince Charles Edward Stuart). For a chance to join Jeremy’s team, fans can sign up here: http://pursuitof1745.com.

“The DRAMBUIE Pursuit is an incredible opportunity to showcase athletic prowess and participate in one of the fiercest competitions in the world,” commented Jeremy Shockey. “I look forward to putting together an unbeatable team to tackle the Scottish highlands and knock out the competition.”

DRAMBUIE – a unique combination of aged Scotch whiskies, heather honey, and a blend of herbs and spices – was created more than 260 years ago exclusively for Bonnie Prince Charlie. After his attempt at taking over the British throne ended in defeat at The Battle of Culloden in April 1746, he went on the run for his life with a price of 30,000 pounds Sterling on his head – about 15m pounds today – before escaping to France and then exile in Italy. Prince Charles left his loyal subjects the recipe for DRAMBUIE, which remains top-secret to this day. The DRAMBUIE Pursuit is inspired by his flight across the Scottish Highlands and features a once-in-a-lifetime 100-mile race course consisting of archery, mountain biking, boating, and other outdoor challenges. Teams from around the world will meet up to pay homage to Bonnie Prince Charlie and compete with each other in the epic two-day race.  As captain of one of the U.S. teams this year, Shockey is currently seeking applicants to join his rebellious team.

“We are excited to see the level of competitiveness Jeremy will bring to the DRAMBUIE Pursuit, as this is the first time we have enlisted a professional athlete,” said Antonio Pujala, Brand Director for DRAMBUIE. “2010 has been an exciting year for revitalizing and modernizing the brand, and we look forward to continuing that momentum by enjoying the participation of a star from the NFL in the 2011 DRAMBUIE Pursuit.”

Possessing extraordinary athletic talent and known for his abilities to run routes and make crucial blocks, Shockey is also well-known for his competitive attitude off the field. As a star player in college, Shockey first rose to national attention as a sophomore, receiving numerous honors before becoming an integral part of the 2001 National Championship Miami team. The following year, Shockey was selected 14th in the first round of the 2002 pro football draft. He quickly thrived in the professional arena and, in 2005, Shockey signed a five-year contract, making him the highest paid tight end in the game. Since then, he has gone on to win two championships, has been an all-pro selection four times, and also caught his 500th career reception this year – one of only six tight ends to ever reach that mark.

From white water rafting to archery and mountain climbing, TEAM JEREMY will enjoy the experience as a lifetime as they race in the footsteps of the legendary Scottish Prince in the 2011 DRAMBUIE Pursuit.

Additionally, as part of his participation in the 2011 Pursuit, Jeremy will be making a donation to The Heath Evans Foundation (http://www.heathevans.org).  Founded by Jeremy’s teammate, Heath Evans, the foundation is dedicated to fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and families affected by sexual abuse.

For more information about the DRAMBUIE Pursuit or to sign up, please visit: http://pursuitof1745.com.