CAMAGÜEY. José “Pepe” Rubín Hernández, bartender at Bar El Cambio, represented Cuba for the first time at the 26th edition of the Mattoni Grand Drink, held in Prague.

 “Taking part in a global non-alcoholic cocktail competition is, without a doubt, a great experience for me. I know it carries a lot of responsibility, but it’s also an opportunity to learn and grow professionally,” he told Adelante.

 Pepe competed on May 2nd with a creation titled Oasis, crafted using Mattoni as the mandatory base ingredient—one not commercially available in Cuba.

 His trajectory already includes notable international appearances. At the Pan-American Cocktail Championship in Dominican Republic, he earned an award for Best Technique and placed fourth among 16 countries. At the world competition in Prague, he secured third place for presentation, fourth in the after-dinner category, and ranked 16th overall out of 67 nations. He also competed in the Lotus Prestige, sponsored by baijiu.

 Although Pepe admits he came late to the profession, he has built his craft through dedication—training with the Asociación de Cantineros de Cuba and refining his skills through practice and persistence. “At first, you take some hits—you don’t win—but later you compete with more experience, along with personal preparation: researching, experimenting, mixing,” he says.

 His journey reflects a steady rise shaped by discipline and curiosity—now bringing a Cuban touch to one of the world’s most competitive cocktail stages.

Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez