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Bar entrepreneurs from over 20 countries entered the inaugural year of the Havana Club Bar Entrepreneur Awards, a fabulous endorsement of the dynamism and innovation our industry is experiencing.
In light of the quality of the nominations, the judging panel selected 11 finalists rather than the 10 originally anticipated. Congratulations to all the finalists: Alastair Burgess, Bek Narzi, Carina Soto Velasquez, Emanuel Minez, JJ Goodman, Julien Escot, Kelsey Ramage, Richard Wynne, Rosie Stimpson, Stephan Hinz and Thanos Prounarous.
A special mention also to all the bar entrepreneurs who entered the 2019 Awards. Thank you. It was not an easy task for the judges and we'd like to recognise all those who shared their entrepreneurial story. We wish you continued success as you forge ahead with your businesses.
In May 2019, the finalists flew to Havana, Cuba, on a very special trip with Havana Club, where Carina Soto Velasquez was crowned the Bar Entrepreneur of the Year!
We present each of the finalists below.
Created by the late Don José Navarro in the 1970s, Havana Club Añejo 7 Años was the first aged Cuban rum introduced to the world as a sipping rum to
The best-known expression of the leading Cuban rum brand, this light rum is blended from base rums aged for a minimum of three years in white oak barrels.
A blend of rums made from the fermented molasses of sugar cane harvested in Cuba, distilled using column stills and aged for up to five years. The blend
El Floridita is one of Havana's, and indeed the world's, most legendary bars. Pouring some 90 cases of rum per week, it's also one of Havana Club's best
Bottled in July 2018, this rum is the brilliant result of a mistake and a bartender, Nick Strangeway, working with a Cuban Maestro del Ron Cabano, Asbel
Havana Club Professional Edition C is a rich and raw gold rum blended from young aromatic aguardiente with older rum bases aged in San José distillery's
Havana Club Professional Edition D is a fresh aromatic white rum made from a blend of fresh destilado de caña with full-bodied and aromatic extra-aged
Launched in March 2017, Tributo 2017 is the second release in Havana Club's Tributo collection and comprises 2,500 bottles. The press release which accompanied
Havana Club Selección de Maestros is a blend resulting from the collaboration between the Maestros Del Ron Cubano: the guardians of the historical character
The pinnacle of Havana Club's Icónica Collection, Maximo was created in 2002 by the late Don Jose Navarro, Primo Maestro del Ron Cubano.
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