UK mixologist wins in Havana

Marcis Dzelzainis of London hotspot Quo Vadis, emerged victorious at the eighth biennial Havana Club International Cocktail Grand Prix last week, fending off stiff competition from finalists Claire Harlick of New Zealand, Ioannis Petros Petris of Greece and Giuseppe Santamaria of Spain.

More than 40 leading international bartenders from 32 countries descended on the cocktail capital of Havana, Cuba, for the world renowned cocktail competition.

Marcis Dzelzainis’ winning cocktail recipes were:

Honeycomb
40ml Havana Club Añejo 3 Años
10ml Havana Club Añejo Reserva
30ml fresh lemon juice
25ml honey syrup (equal parts of Cuban honey and mineral water)
2 dashes of absinthe

Shake hard with ice, strain into a chilled coupette, garnish with a lime wedge.

Gainsbourg Daisy
40ml Havana Club Añejo 3 Años
10ml calvados
5ml yellow Chartreuse
15ml orgeat
20ml fresh lime juice

Shake hard and briefly with ice, strain over cracked ice into a wine glass and garnish with a mint sprig, a cucumber slice and a raspberry dusted with fine sugar.

Smoky Bear
50ml Havana Club Añejo 7 Años
10ml mezcal
10ml maple syrup
2 dashes of bitters
2 dashes of absinthe

Stir all ingredients in mixing glass, strain over ice in a rocks glass and garnish with a long lemon twist.

El Niño
30ml Havana Club Añejo 3 Años
10ml Havana Club Añejo Reserva
20ml vermouth Carpano Antica Formula
5ml green Chartreuse
5ml sugar syrup
25ml fresh lime juice

Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist.

1 May 2010 - Felicity Murray