I’ve numerous reminiscences of final 12 months’s Havana Membership Cocktail Maestros international closing. All of them valuable. There was the situation for starters. Nowhere has fairly the pale glamour, or packs the identical visible affect as Havana, Cuba. Then there was the competitors itself – this was the primary 12 months of the model new, completely revised format and collectively, the groups at Havana Membership had pulled out all of the stops to make sure that it will be a spotlight on the cocktail competitors calendar. On prime of that, there was the best way the four-day programme had been put collectively. Every second had been rigorously curated to tell, encourage, educate and stimulate everybody participating.
Above all although, we’ll all the time bear in mind Lexie – stunning, spirited, proficient Lexie.
Some individuals smile with their mouths. With others, you see it of their eyes. Lexie’s smile transcended each of these issues. It got here from the center. And through these 4 days in Havana, these of us who have been together with her noticed that particular Lexie smile numerous occasions.
Lexie, or Alexandra Constantinescu to offer her her full identify, was one among eight groups of bartenders who made it to the inaugural Havana Membership Cocktail Maestros international finals. She had gained her place on the journey together with teammate Shreya Basu, and boy, have been they each completely made as much as be there.
We’ve talked about that smile however Lexie stood out for extra causes, together with her real respect, expertise and fervour for her craft, the best way she pushed herself creatively and professionally and maybe most notable, the best way that she related with everybody she got here involved with. In my capability as one of many judges of the competitors, I witnessed all of her innate qualities shine by means of first hand.
Throughout these 4 days I can actually say that Lexie was pleased, optimistic and bursting with enthusiasm for the finals and her fellow opponents. And whereas she and Shreya narrowly missed out on profitable the general competitors, they have been the plain champions of individuals’s hearts. Truth.
When the competitors was over, each Lexie and Shreya have been wanting ahead to spending a number of further days in Havana to find extra of the town. Earlier than I left, I bear in mind hugging them each tightly and promising to see them again in London. Then a number of days later I heard that Lexie had gone.
It’s been virtually 10 months since her sudden passing and it nonetheless hasn’t fairly sunk in. Not with me, not with anybody. I can nonetheless see that smile, I can nonetheless really feel that hug, nonetheless really feel her infectious vitality and the joy she had for her time in Cuba.
As Havana Membership publicizes the second version of its Havana Membership Cocktail Maestros these reminiscences floor once more. Significantly as I, together with Simone Caporale can be returning to Havana for the worldwide closing in 2026 to renew our roles as judges. Nonetheless, I understand how a lot Lexie loved the camaraderie, connections and learnings and I additionally know she can be very a lot in focus with us all whereas we’re there.
Her sudden passing will little doubt be remembered once more on a wider stage. Accurately. However we must also bear in mind her the best way that I’ll bear in mind her: pleased, a lot beloved and smiling that very particular Lexie smile.
