The 2018 edition of the Havana Club Cocktail Grand Prix, one of the oldest and most prestigious international bartenders’ competitions, has been launched.

Under the theme "CUBA MODERNA", this year’s edition has encouraged bartenders to take inspiration from Cuban ingredients and culture to create a modern, forward-looking cocktail with Havana Club 7 which could one day take its place next to other Cuban classic cocktails.

During the national heat, which was held on the 6th of March at The Clubhouse/Gianpula Village, 13 professional bartenders took to the stage to showcase their talent and skills and impress judges and audience alike with their creativity and exciting cocktails.

“The standard of this competition was very high,” commented one of the international judges on the panel, Dinos Constantinides, managing partner of the Lost+Found Drinkery in Nicosia, listed in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2017. “It was a pleasure for me to be in Malta on behalf of Havana Club to judge the great creations prepared for us this evening.”

After tense deliberation, the panel of judges named Artjoms Markovs as the winner of this year’s competition. Artjoms, who works at The Thirsty Barber in St Julian’s, convinced the jury with his innovative cocktail creation using Havana Club 7, lime juice, honey syrup, fresh ginger concentrate and ginger-infused tobacco leaf.

He will be representing Malta during the international finals in Havana, Cuba in June.

The event was organized by Farsons Beverage Imports Company (FBIC) Limited, importers and distributors of Havana Club Rum in Malta, in collaboration with the Maltese Bartenders Guild.