Havana Club Cocktail Maestros Competition

Setting the bar high, the international contest takes the world's most impressive bartending teams on a unique journey through national qualifications and regional challenges, followed by an extraordinary trip to Barcelona, one of the world's leading cocktail capitals.

Since the early 20th century, when Cuban bartenders began creating iconic cocktails such as the Daiquiri, Mojito and El Presidente, Havana Club has been a bartenders' preferred rum, with the modern-day portfolio encompassing light rum, golden rum, full-bodied aged rums and even spiced and smoky variants.

This inspiring and engaging competition encompasses teams of two bartenders from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Building on 2024's inaugural competition, the Second Edition, launched early in 2025, encourages competitors to partner with bartenders at a different venue in the same country, fostering trusted friendships and long-term connections across the industry.

For further information see: havana-club.com

Program

The top 10 teams from each country progressed to the National Finals, where they were challenged to create a Cuban- and Afro-Latin-inspired cocktail for a local jury. The duos that impressed the jury most with their creativity, flavour, and team spirit secured their place at both the Regional Challenges and the Global Finals.

For the Regional Stage, teams will come together for a series of training sessions where they'll learn to work together in stimulating environments and accumulate points before jetting off to Barcelona for the final stages of the contest in April 2026.

Not only will contestants be flown to Barcelona to take part in the finals, but for four days they'll also immerse themselves in the city's vibrant bar scene.

At the Global Final, teams will participate in the Great Havana Hustle, testing their skills over the course of a bar shift and showcasing their expertise, hospitality, and teamwork. The winners will be decided by a panel of esteemed judges and industry icons, once again including Sandrae Lawrence and Simone Caporale, joined by Priyanka Blah and José Luis León.

Prizes

• 20+ teams of finalists will be invited to a once-in-a-lifetime experience to compete in the global final to be held in September 2026 in Barcelona, Spain.
• €10,000 prize for winning team
• The winners will also take home a coveted, extremely rare bottle from Havana Club's Icónica Collection