From November 4th to 9th 2022, a World Cocktail Championship will be held for the first time in Cuba, since it was decided last year during the Annual General Assembly of the International Bartenders Association (IBA). The island beat two other candidates (Spain and Russia), to become the first country in Latin America to be selected as the venue for this meeting.
With these wonderful news, next winter season will be a stylish one on the Hicacos peninsula having Meliá Internacional Varadero -one of the most popular hotels on the “blue beach”- hosting the international cocktail party.
In its 69th edition, the Championship announces a program full of special moments. In addition to competitions between bartenders (almost 100 participants are expected) there will be talks and interactions with the Cuban Rum masters, experts in the creation of this spirit, whose experience and knowledge aim to be declared a World Heritage tradition. Pairings of rum, coffee, chocolate and Habanos by renowned sommeliers are also planned, as well as a visit to the San José Rum Factory in the nearby province of Mayabeque.
However, one of the most spectacular moments will be the preparation of a colossal “Adam and Eve” cocktail. You may now be wondering: how big? and we tell you that the challenge will be nothing more and nothing less than establishing a Guinness Record. You should also know that this cocktail with a suggestive name won first place in a similar cocktail championship, held in Seville in 2003; and it arose from the creativity of Sergio Serrano, bartender at the Tryp Habana Libre hotel. Do you want to know more about its history and ingredients? Check here!
Recently, managers and specialists from the IBA visited Meliá Internacional Varadero, to inspect the facility. After a thorough tour, interviews with the staff and analysis of the various locations, they came up with a conclusion that made us proud: the hotel has “a magical and incomparable environment to host the competition”. The statement was published by the Cuban Bartenders Association (ACC) on its Facebook page.
And the truth is, indeed, that Meliá Internacional Varadero’s meeting and events ecosystem is unique. From its meeting rooms that can accommodate more than a thousand people and the alternative venues in the swimming pools, restaurants or bars, adding to it a beautiful beach classified among the best in the area, ideal for theme parties (such as, for example, one dedicated to Cuban cocktails). There are accommodation options that please all kinds of tastes, and among them the exclusive The Level section stands out, with personalized service and superior attention to its guests. Gastronomic proposals include a variety of more than 35 spaces to enjoy of Cuban and international cuisine and mixology.
The 2022 World Cocktail Championship will be an excellent opportunity to show the world the Cuban bartending tradition, and for bartenders from all over the world to exchange ideas in an environment of healthy competition. To keep up to date with all the news, we recommend you to follow the hotel’s social media channels. Meliá Hotel Internacional Varadero is a classic that has already declared itself ready for the big event.
