Havana Club invites bartenders to the 11th Havana Club Cocktail Grand Prix Danish Competition

Like the country’s iconic cocktails, Cuba’s identity is the result of a fusion of influences that have come from as far as Africa, Spain and America. Drawing from its multicultural spirit, contestants are this year challenged to create the next classic serve by mixing Cuba’s cocktail tradition, authenticity and local ingredients with their own personal experiences.

The Danish national heat will see 13 high-end bartenders, carefully selected by the local Pernod Ricard team, competing to win the precious ticket to Havana. In this purpose, they will have to express their skills and make the best impression to this year’s 3-member jury: Meimi Sanchez (Havana Club International Brand Ambassador), Nick Kobbernagel (owner of the leading cocktail bars Lidkoeb and Ruby), and Mads Heitmann (Founder of Romhatten.dk rum blog). The 13 finalists include bartenders from the most prestigious Danish cocktail bars, with among them Bar 25, Curfew, Bæst, Ruby, 1656, K Bar, Lêlê Tiger Bar and other bars…

During the global finals, held in Havana from 30th May – 4th June, regional champions will benefit from exclusive Cuban rum and cocktail education delivered by a team of globally renowned mixologists during two days of intensive workshops and masterclasses. A visit to the Havana Club distillery will provide further inspiration for bartenders before the intense competition begins.

Curating this year’s global event in Havana will be award-winning drink historians Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller, authors of over 36 titles including Cuban Cocktails. The final will be chaired by Dave Broom, International Wine & Spirits Communicator of the Year 2013, and judged by an exclusive panel of mixologists from the World’s 50 Best Bars including Hidetsugo Ueno, Renato ‘Tato’ Giovannoni, Alejandro Bolívar and Thanos Prunarus, plus cocktail expert Scotty Schuder and last year’s winner Andy Loudon. 

The Danish national heat for the 11th Havana Club Cocktail Grand Prix is at Admiral Hotel in Copenhagen on Monday 29th February at 15.00.