HCCM GREEK FINALISTS
07.05.2025
Greek Finalists
The vibe? Pure Havana Club: laid-back and charged with infectious energy. Friends, colleagues, and cocktail lovers came together to cheer on the finalists, sip on frozen Daiquiris, and celebrate the raw talent of Greece’s thriving bar scene. Even before the competition kicked off, the finalists took part in inspiring mentoring sessions led by the judges, covering essential topics such as sustainability, authentic hospitality, and insider advice. Among them, Denny Kallivoka, hospitality journalist at Difford’s Guide Greece with 20 years of experience in cocktail judging, and Giannis Petris, co-owner of Tiki Bar Athens and Pony & Jigger Liqueurs, and one of the pioneers of the Greek cocktail scene, brought invaluable insights. Giannis, who had previously secured 2nd place globally in one of the very first Havana Club Grand Prix competitions, was the perfect embodiment of how far bartending talent can go with the right platform and mindset.
The mentoring was also enriched by The Sons of Cuba, the global winners of the first edition of HCCM. Now bartenders at Vogatsikou 3 in Thessaloniki, they returned to share their own experience and offer guidance to this year’s contenders. A perfect warm-up for what would be a day to remember.
Each team had one shot to shine: their signature cocktail to present, a story to tell, and all the creativity they could pour into honoring Havana Club rum.
And in the end, it was Fotis Gavalas and Christos Sgouromallis, representing Bungalow 7 in Glyfada, Athens, who stole the show. Their cocktail was perfectly executed. Their presentation stood out as one of the strongest of the day, and their energy and emotion were evident throughout. They are now headed to the next stages, European regional challenges and the global finals. A new chapter begins for this talented and passionate duo, and we can’t wait to see where it takes them.
A huge shoutout to all the finalist teams, guests, and everyone who made this day unforgettable. The journey is only just beginning — cheers to Cuban spirit and the magic of a well-crafted cocktail!
An ode to the Cuban slow way of living
– 40 ml Havana Club 3 Años
– 15 ml Havana Club 3 Años infused with coffee and cinnamon
– 60 ml mango water infused with spearmint
– 10 g sugar
– 2.5 g citric acid
– 0.2 g salt
– 20 ml water
Edible 4-layer jelly:
– Green layer: spearmint flavour
– Yellow layer: mango flavour
– Red layers: cinnamon flavour
– Brown layer: coffee flavour
