The Havana Club International Cocktail Grand Prix it is an international bartending competition that began in 1996.[1][2][3] Since then the competition has taken place every two years in Havana, Cuba.[4][5] The Grand Prix is organized by Havana Club, with the support of the Cuban Cantineros Club. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) is an associated sponsor of the competition.[6][7][8]
The Havana Club International Cocktail Grand Prix is truly an international competition, drawing in top talent from over 30 different countries.[9][10] After pre-qualifying in national competitions, the finalists gather in Havana for the final stage of the competition.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]
Winners edit
| Year | Name | Country | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Juan Tito Calcina Santander | Bolivia | Classic |
| 1998 | Clemente Ortiz | Mexico | Classic |
| 2000 | Manuel Carbajo | Cuba | Classic |
| 2000 | Chuck McIntosh | Canada | Flair-tending |
| 2002 | Ihosvany Machado Gomez | Cuba | Classic |
| 2002 | Sasha Yvankovich | Italy | Flair-tending |
| 2004 | Juan Carlos Valladares | Cuba | Classic |
| 2004 | Seyran Gevorkyan | Russia | Flair-tending |
| 2006 | Gianalberto Alessandrini | Italy | Classic |
| 2006 | Danilo Oribe | Uruguay | Flair-tending |
| 2008 | Tito Mueller | Germany | Classic |
| 2010 | Marcis Dzelzainis | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 2012 | Julien Escot | France | N/A |
| 2014 | Andrew Loudon | United Kingdom | N/A |
| 2016 | Amaury Cepeda | Cuba | N/A |
| 2018 | Ninon Fauvarque | France | N/A |
| 2024 | Andreas Giaprakas, Danos Minoudis | Greece | N/A |
Rules edit
In the 8th International Cocktail Grand Prix in May 2010, bartenders were judged on the following criteria- their knowledge, their mixing techniques, the quality of their drinks, and their overall image.[18][19][20][21]
Competitors are permitted to bring their own barware, tools, and ingredients. Each competitor has 10 minutes to prepare three original cocktails.[22][23] The first cocktail must use Havana Club rum as its base and the second must use Havana Añejo 7 Años. The third cocktail must be a reinvention of a classic Cuban rum cocktail. While preparing their drinks the participants must be able to hold a conversation and multi-task.[24]
The bartenders are judged out of 250 points: 150 points for the three cocktails based on the appearance, aroma, taste, finish and balance of the drink, and another possible 100 points for the technical skill, knowledge, innovative thinking, creativity, communication skills and overall image of the bartender.[18] The final four competitors have 15 minutes to prepare the same three drinks, plus an additional drink that will test their creativity using secret ingredients given to them at the last minute.[18]
References edit
- ^ "Havana Club Cocktail Maestros". Havana Club. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Hohwieler, Rupert (14 November 2023). "Havana Club debuts team-based bartending contest". thespiritsbusiness.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Havana Club is inviting bartenders to become cocktail maestros". cocktailsdistilled.com. 16 November 2023. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024.
- ^ Hospitality. Trade Publications Limited. 2010. p. 82. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Travel: A Guide to Havana's Classic Cocktail Bars". foodgoblin.com. 10 July 2016. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024.
- ^ "International Bartenders Association (IBA)". iba-world.com. International Bartenders Association.
- ^ "Cuban cantinero wins Havana Club Grand Prix". 6 June 2016.
- ^ "Havana Club celebrates 15 years of Tomorrowland". 23 July 2019.
- ^ "Havana Club Cocktail Maestros Global Final takes place in Cuba in mid-April". drinkmagazine.asia. 4 April 2024. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024.
- ^ Harrison, Kerry. "Havana Club Rum Museum: A Spirited Journey into Cuban Culture". havana-guide.com.
- ^ Lee, Barry (31 March 2023). "15 Havana Cocktails to Transport You to the Tropics". dinewithdrinks.com.
- ^ "Cuban Rum: Mojito, Daiquiri, Cuban Recipes". havana-guide.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010.
- ^ Waterworth, Shay (9 January 2018). "Havana Club Cocktail Grand Prix gets new format".
- ^ Kushner, Paul (13 October 2023). "Our 9 Favorite Cuban Cocktails". mybartender.com. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023.
- ^ "Greek bartenders win Havana Club cocktail competition in Cuba". ekathimerini.com. Kathimerini. 18 April 2024. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Grecia conquistó Gran Premio Havana Club en Cuba". prensa-latina.cu (in Spanish). Prensa Latina. 18 April 2024. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024.
- ^ Daily Pérez Guillén. "Grecia en el primer lugar del concurso Havana Club Cocktail Maestros". traveltradecaribbean.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Havana Club Cocktail Maestros: Terms and Conditions Havana Club Cocktail Maestros". havana-club.com. Havana Club. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Amaury Cepeda remporte le Grand Prix Havana Club". lhotellerie-restauration.fr (in French). 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Finale internationale du Grand Prix Havana Club 2014: the winner is". infosbar.com (in French). 25 November 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016.
- ^ "La crème des barmen: Julien Escot est champion du monde des cocktails". midilibre.fr (in French). Midi Libre. 26 October 2012. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024.
- ^ Sheppard, Alyson (12 January 2017). "The Forbidden Fruit of Cuba Isn't Cigars - It's Rum". esquire.com. Esquire. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Cócteles: Cocktails, tragos y chupitos". cocteles.info (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 October 2011.
- ^ "Big news: Havana Club is back with Havana Club Cocktail Maestros". thecocktaillovers.com. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024.