Poland and Sweden win the World Cocktail Championship held in Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 9 (ACN) Poland's Kacper Smarz in flair style (which combines the preparation of cocktails with acrobatics) and Sweden's Andrew Watson, in the classic modality, won the 69th World Cocktail Championship that took place at the Cuban Varadero resort.

The championship, which for the first time was hosted by Cuba, ended successfully on Tuesday in this seaside resort, according to Giorgio Fadda, president of the International Bartenders Association (IBA).

He told the Cuban News Agency that he was satisfied with the organization of the event, which ran for five days at the Meliá Internacional Varadero Hotel and gathered representatives from 60 countries.

Ramón Ramírez Fresneda, vice-president of the IBA, said that the affection and support of the Cuban government for the event was unparalleled in relation to previous editions in other countries.

The renowned bartender of the Meliá company and founder of the Sol Palmeras hotel, inaugurated by Fidel Castro more than three decades ago, praised the preparation of the Cuban bartenders, who, grouped in their national association -the oldest in the world-, attend training and educational courses.

Armenia was the best team among the delegations.

Two bartenders from Cuba participated in the main categories, Vladimir Márquez and Yasmani Portal, who demonstrated their skills and the technicality that characterizes the bartenders of the guild, despite not making it to the final presentations.

As part of the final day, José Rafa Malém, president of the Association of Cuban Bartenders, presented for the second time his book Un brindis por mi Habana, on the occasion of the celebrations for the 503rd anniversary of the Wonder City.

Rafa Malém said that this text is a dream come true, and in which he reflected the theory of Cuban cocktails, its history, as well as anecdotes from his childhood.

The World Cocktail Championship included workshops on classic local cocktails and visits to sites in western Cuba linked to the rum-making tradition of the largest of the Antilles.

During the IBA's Annual General Assembly, Cuba won the nomination to hold the event in 2022, an award endorsed by the professionalism of those involved in mixology and the hospitality and safety of the destination.

Italy will host the event next year.