The inaugural "Talento Bar" competition, organized by the local development project “Ajiaco Cimarrón,” was held last weekend at the Old Havana Amphitheater. The event featured six young bartenders, all recent graduates of the program.
Following the conclusion of the latest training cycle, the project’s private vocational school—which also offers culinary arts programs—hosted a preliminary contest among its graduates, with six finalists advancing to the championship round.
The top honors were awarded to Mario Mario Pérez, who took first place, followed by Konan Diez in second, and Rolando Ponce in third. All three winners represent the rising talent within the Cuban bartending scene.
The panel of judges included Eddis Naranjo, President of the Association of Cuban Bartenders; Damián Domínguez, Brand Ambassador for Havana Club; and Enoch Tamayo, Director of the Ajiaco Cimarrón project.
This edition of "Talento Bar" marks the first competition hosted by the project, with plans already in motion to expand the event to a national level by 2027.
The fundamental mission of "Ajiaco Cimarrón" is to foster professional development for youth in the bar industry, promote Cuban cultural identity, and establish Cuba as a regional benchmark for mixology and hospitality within the Caribbean.
The "Talento Bar" competition was supported by several prominent sponsors, including Havana Club International S.A., Ciego Montero, and the Hotel Parque Central, among others.
CubaPLUS Latinos
CubaPLUS Guyana
CubaPLUS Travel