Havana Club Cocktail Maestros Global Final

In the first round on Tuesday, 7 September 2026, teams were challenged to present their interpretation of a Cuban-inspired classic and a second cocktail that demonstrated their own creativity. Sandrae Lawrence, Priyanka Blah, Simone Caporale, and José Luis León watched and judged them [Skip to more on the judges below].

The second round, "the Great Havana Hustle," the following evening, is where I and others were privileged to sample the same two cocktails from each team. Imagine a street full of covered market stalls, each manned by a bartending duo representing their country.

This tested their mixing skills and ability to work under the pressure of busy service outside the comfort of their usual bar setup, while demonstrating their warmth of hospitality. The teams were split into two groups, so we had 20 cocktails to taste from each group. They were small samples! We were given two chips, one to award to our favourite team in each group.

I sampled each cocktail and listened to the stories behind their creation, but the UK team stood out. While other teams waited behind the bars for guests to make their way to them, the UK duo took turns working the crowd, offering cocktails from a tray. That, coupled with tasty cocktails, led me to give Blaise Bachelier and George Bryan of the UK my first chip.

While teams from France, Italy, Spain, and Greece presented to the high standard you'd expect in such a global final, I was impressed by teams from countries whose cocktail scene I have no previous experience of, particularly Daria Bezhina and Irina Lyulko of Kazakhstan; hence, they secured my second chip.

The Great Havana Hustle also gave the four judges another chance to evaluate the teams as they made their way up and down the street, observing and chatting with the competitors.

The chips bestowed on our favoured teams by me and others during the Hustle went towards the two People's Choice Awards, with Luis Miguel and Modesto Isael Lozada of Mexico winning the first group and Francisco Javier and Camila Giraldi of Spain winning the second.

As the name suggests, the Bartender's Choice Award, in honour of Alexandra "Lexie" Constantinescu, a much-missed bartender, was awarded by the bartenders competing themselves. After the Hustle, they were asked to write the name of their favourite team on the back of a domino chip. The winners were Raffaele Manetti and Davide Corazza of Italy, Sara Leonor Sá de Sousa of France, and Mario Luis Acosta Batista and Alejandro Fleites Socarras of Cuba, reflecting how these two teams earned the respect and admiration of their fellow competitors.

But the hardest decision fell to the four judges, who pronounced the UK team as the winners of Havana Club Cocktail Maestros. Congratulations to
Blaise Bachelier and George Bryan, standing in for Ryan Smith, from Fox and Chance, who won the €10,000 prize and a set of crystal decanters of Havana Club Icónica Máximo.

Many thanks to all the Global Finalists for their hospitality during the evening. They all leave Barcelona with a global network of bartenders turned friends.

The Judges

Sandrae Lawrence, No. 35 - Bar World 100, Founder and Editor of The Cocktail Lovers and member of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation's Board of Directors.
Sandrae Lawrence is a prominent global advocate for the cocktail and spirits industry. A true spokesperson for diversity and equality she is a mentor for Equal Measures UK. Often featuring in the bar world's most influential and ones to watch.
"I'm so excited and proud to be back judging Havana Club Cocktail Maestros 2026. At the inaugural Global Final I witnessed firsthand the deep connection, camaraderie and growth that each of the teams underwent during the process. For this second edition, I am looking forward to seeing the rhythms, warmth and magic of Havana will be brought to life in Barcelona."

Priyanka Blah, No. 12 - Bar World 100, Founder of The Dram Attic and Education Director of BCB
Priyanka Blah is a hospitality expert and world leading drinks writer. She is as the Director of Education for BCB and an academy chair for the 50 Best Bars.
"Competitions are a great way to sharpen skills, expand networks, and get exposed to new cultures - HCCM provides participants with all these plus the unique opportunity to be mentored by industry leaders from across the world. Platforms like this can provide invaluable learning."

Simone Caporale, No. 7 - Bar World 100 and Co-owner of Boadas, SIPS and Montana
Simone Caporale is famous for transforming global cocktail culture through immersive storytelling and playful drink presentation. Founder of some of the world's most successful bars, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential people in modern mixology.
"I am thrilled to be back as jury of the Havana Club Cocktail Maestros 2026 Global Final. What I love about this competition, it how it encourages bartender teams to not only compete at the highest level, but to collaborate. It truly helps each bartender to understand the importance of professional empathy and community spirit."

José Luis León, No. 69 - Bar World 100, Bar manager and Partner at Licorería Limantour, Mexico City
José Luis is a globally celebrated and award-winning master mixologist. Widely considered a pioneering force behind Mexico City's modern cocktail revolution, he himself is a Havana Club Grand Prix Finalist.
"Competitions can inspire great drinks, but what truly shapes a bartender is the opportunity to learn from others. That's what makes Havana Club Cocktail Maestros so valuable - it creates conversations, challenges perspectives, and builds a stronger global community of hospitality professionals. I'm honoured to be part of that journey."

The journey to the Global Final in Barcelona, Spain

The road to the Global Final has seen the bartending duos win their national finals and then compete in Regional Challenges.

National Finals

The best bartender duos from 25 countries competed in their national finals, having earned their place by submitting Cuban-inspired cocktails that capture the flavour, energy, and artistry at the heart of Havana Club. Judged at live events or in-bar, this national stage saw teams present their creations to a panel of local industry leaders. Teams were scored on taste, flair, and presentation, as well as their chemistry and ability to hero the quality and versatility of Havana Club's portfolio.

Regional Challenges

The Global Finalists teams headed to their Regional Challenges: three events held across Europe, Asia, and the Americas for the bar teams in each region. These two-day experiences were designed to enhance the teams' skills and deepen their collaborative mindset.

Alongside cocktail challenges, participants have received mentorship from acclaimed figures in the global bar community and participated in educational sessions rooted in Havana Club's heritage, craft, and cultural significance, ensuring they are equipped for the final stage. Points earned during these Regional Challenges will contribute to each team's overall final score in the competition's Global Final in Havana.

Asia-Pacific Regional Challenge

Shanghai kicked off the regional journey as Havana Club took over the SIP Supernova 2025 Competition, hosting an exclusive "Havana Day" at the Fosun Foundation. The ten national winning teams, guided by world-renowned bartender Simone Caporale, tackled the Cuban Mode challenge, creating cocktails inspired by Havana's resourceful spirit using homemade elements and local ingredients.

To build momentum across the region, Havana Club also launched a dedicated Asia Tour in November 2025, spotlighting finalists through collaborative guest shifts. From Bangkok and Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City and Dubai, each takeover brought Cuban warmth and hospitality to leading cocktail hubs across Asia while strengthening connections established in Shanghai.

European Regional Challenge

Berlin welcomed 15 national winning teams for an unforgettable European Challenge. Under the eye of judges Maria Kontorravdis, Ian Burrell and Stefan Adrian, bartenders showcased exceptional techniques and distinctly European interpretations of Cuban-inspired mixology. The 3-day event brought all teams together for challenges, experiences, and insightful education.

Performances were separated by the narrowest of margins, including a dramatic tie between Portugal and France for first place in the first Liquid Harmony challenge. Shared dinners, bar tours, and creative exchanges reinforced the community spirit that defines Cocktail Maestros.

Americas Regional Challenge

The Americas Regional Finals brought the journey to Bogotá, where teams from Colombia, Mexico, Cuba and Canada gathered for three days of challenges, creativity and cultural exchange. With judges Ángel Solórzano, Luna Orellano, and Noah Matthies, bartenders took on the Liquid Harmony and Cuban Mode challenges, showcasing the region's diversity and talent.

A standout moment came as the Cuban team claimed the Liquid Harmony win via online participation – proof that Cuban creativity carries far beyond the island. Throughout the weekend, bartenders shared stories, techniques, and traditions, capturing the warm spirit at the heart of Havana Club.

Across every region, we've seen bartenders pour their culture, their talent and their corazón into this competition. Cocktail Maestros is all about community – a celebration of creativity, hospitality and the stories that bring people together. We're incredibly proud of the spirit shown across Asia, Europe and the Americas, and it's inspiring to see Havana Club resonate so strongly with the bartending community around the world.Now all roads lead back to where it all began: Havana, where the stage is set for the global finals of Havana Club Cocktail Maestros 2026.

Alfredo Guerra, Global Brand Ambassador for Havana Club

This is a rare opportunity for bartenders to elevate their craft on a global stage through mentorship, cultural exchange and hands-on experiences. Havana Club Cocktail Maestros aims to create a space for professional growth, meaningful industry connections and a deeper understanding of what Havana Club represents for Cuban rum – all while celebrating the talent and creativity that drive our industry forward.

Maxime Chevalier, Senior Brand Manager for Havana Club

See the 2026 Global Finalists