Farsons Beverage Imports supported Malta’s MONIN Cup winner Juan Martinez at the competition’s European semi-final in London on 26 October, the company confirmed in an update published on 5 November.

Martinez represented Malta after winning the national round earlier this year. The London appearance brought him into competition with bartenders from across Europe under the 2026 theme, “Timeless Twists”.

The Malta final took place on 27 May at AX ODYCY, with 14 participants. Martinez, identified in the local event reports as assistant bar manager at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, secured first place and the opportunity to progress to the European stage.

Farsons Beverage Imports organised the national competition with MONIN. The business is the brand’s local importer and distributor, giving it a role in Malta’s branded drinks market alongside the group’s own beverage portfolio.

“Timeless Twists” asks competitors to reinterpret established flavours and traditional techniques through contemporary drinks. The competition therefore tests product application as well as presentation.

The published MONIN Cup assessment sets aside 70 points for taste and creativity and 30 for technique and presentation. Measurement, workstation organisation and the ability to reproduce the submitted recipe form part of the professional standard.

For drinks suppliers and hospitality buyers, those practical skills connect a branded ingredient with how it is used behind the bar. A recipe needs to work consistently in service, rather than rely only on a striking competition presentation.

Such demonstrations sit alongside food and drink trade events in Malta as opportunities for brands and distributors to meet professional customers. Their commercial value depends on the product’s fit with the operator’s menu, preparation time and cost per serving.

The Farsons update gives no London ranking or confirmation that Martinez has qualified for the international final. His national win and European participation are separate stages, and neither should be reported as a global title.

The published competition calendar places the international final in Paris on 8–9 December. Confirmation of the finalists will determine who progresses from the European round to that stage.

Editor’s Note: Based on Farsons’ 5 November release, earlier Maltese event reports and the MONIN Cup calendar and rules. The London round took place on 26 October.