HCCM ITALY FINALISTS

03.07.2025

Italian Finalists

The Italy HCCM#2 Champions Are Ready for Havana!

The spirit of Havana Club touched Milan this June, as the Italian finals of the Havana Club Cocktail Maestros reached their emotional peak.

From the very first moment, Officina Milano set the tone: warm lighting, vivid colors, and the unmistakable pulse of Cuban music created the perfect atmosphere for a competition where passion meets craftsmanship. Among ten of the best bars across the country, one team stood out, not just for their cocktail, but for the story they chose to tell. 

The winning duo, Raffaele Manetti and Davide Corazza, welcomed the jury with sincerity and emotion, inviting them to dive into their personal journey, a story of roots, distance, and rediscovery. Originally from Tuscany and Perú respectively, Raffaele and Davide now call Milan home, and it is from this shared experience of displacement and longing that Saudades was born. 

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HAVANA CLUB COCKTAIL MAESTROS HAVANA CLUB COCKTAIL MAESTROS HAVANA CLUB COCKTAIL MAESTROS HAVANA CLUB COCKTAIL MAESTROS

Their cocktail, named after the famous Portuguese word for nostalgic longing, was a heartfelt tribute to their journeys. A cross-cultural creation marrying South American pineapple with fresh Italian basil, Saudades was both comforting and surprising. 

Each sip told a story: of leaving, of searching, of never forgetting where you come from. As the team explained, “Living in Milan, we experience saudades. This cocktail lets us relive old memories while exploring new ones.” The preparation was executed with precision and emotion, their synergy behind the bar as fluid as their storytelling. 

The judging panel, composed of three industry experts traveling across Italy to meet each finalist on their home turf, was visibly moved. Officina Milano, long a strong supporter of Havana Club, felt like the natural stage for this moment of authenticity and artistry. 

The result? A unanimous verdict. Saudades was not just a drink, but a message in a glass, layered, nostalgic, and powerfully human. It was Havana Club at its best: connecting people, cultures, and emotions through the language of cocktails. 

With the Italian leg of the competition now closed, all eyes turn to the next chapter: the European regional finals. But no matter where the road leads next, one thing is certain, Italy brought heart, soul, and saudade to this year’s edition of HCCM. ¡Salud! 

 

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Recipe for "Saudades" Cocktail

45 ml Havana Club 3 Años 
20 ml Homemade “Smoky Pina Cordial” 
10 ml Fresh lime juice  
35 ml Homemade “Coisa Boa Tepache” 

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HAVANA CLUB COCKTAIL MAESTROS HAVANA CLUB COCKTAIL MAESTROS HAVANA CLUB COCKTAIL MAESTROS HAVANA CLUB COCKTAIL MAESTROS

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