Press Room Havana Club

Julien Escot of Montpellier’s Papa Doble bar triumphed at the 9th Havana Club International Cocktail Grand Prix last week. The global appeal of Cuban rum was evident during the four-day event, as 40 leading bartenders came to the cocktail capital of Havana, Cuba, to battle for the title.

Fellow finalists Ryan Chetiyawardana from London’s bar The Worship Street Whistling Shop and Chris Hysted from The Black Pearl bar in Melbourne, who finished second and third, also fended off strong competition from bartenders representing 38 different countries including Japan, Spain, Korea, China, New Zealand, Denmark, Chile and Germany.

The trio made it into the final after impressing the judges during the semi-final with their preparation of two cocktails – the first using Havana Club 3 Años to create a classic cocktail and the second using Havana Club 7 Años or Selección de Maestros to create an original cocktail.

During the final, the competitors were tasked with demonstrating their innovative and creative thinking by constructing a cocktail from a box of mystery ingredients, including guava, orange, grapes, Cuban basil and peach bitters. Julien Escot impressed the judges with his cocktail ‘6 de la Tarde en La Habana’, which translates as ‘Havana at 6pm’.

The judges also required finalists to honour the style, creativity and professionalism of the Cuban cantinero (meaning bartender), while serving cocktails to the event’s attendees. By being both a host and a friend, these cocktail masters are renowned for their ability to connect with the customer through a deep understanding of human nature. The finalists had to demonstrate this skill by recreating an authentic bar atmosphere and experience.

The judging panel comprised nine experts including spirits and rum aficionados from around the world, such as Ian Burrell, Andrew Nicholls, Juan José González Rubiera and Jared Brown.

Jérôme Cottin-Bizonne, managing director of Havana Club International SA, said: “The 9th Havana Club Grand Prix has attracted some of the world’s best bartenders. Their cocktail creations and bartending skills have been outstanding. With representation from 38 different countries, this year’s competition has been bigger than the last, demonstrating the growing appeal of the Grand Prix as one of the world’s most renowned cocktail competitions. We look forward to continuing to showcase the global potential of rum through this international event, as well as Havana Club’s status as the bartenders’ preferred rum brand*.”

Contestants were also invited to attend the Havana Summit, where Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller revealed their new findings on the history of cocktail making. They showed details of the central role that Cuba and its rum played in the creation of cocktail classics such as the Mojito, Cuba Libre, Daiquiri and Presidente.