The London bar community was rocked in April by the news that Lyaness bartender Alexandra ‘Lexie’ Constantinescu had unexpectedly passed away on an extended trip to Cuba, where she had previously been competing as a UK finalist in Havana Club’s Cocktail Maestros competition.

Havana Club is reducing the weight of glass bottles across its core portfolio in a move that it estimates will save 2.2K tons of CO2 per year.

Cuba’s Maestros del Ron Cubano, the island’s resident rum masters, have had their knowledge and expertise officially recognised by UNESCO as World Intangible Heritage last week.

The new digital platform, Havana Club Create, aims to give rum drinkers the opportunity to put their own original twist on the iconic Havana Club 7 label.

Havana Club has unveiled the sixth instalment in its prestigious Tributo series of limited-edition rums.

Havana Club has launched a Cuban Spiced variant in a bid to bring more millennial and Generation Z consumers into the rum category.

Havana Club has unveiled The Havana Club Professional Edition range which has been specifically developed to target bartenders.

Havana Club has unveiled a new label for its Havana Club Añejo Especial rum that reflects the vibrancy of Cuba and aims to communicate the "quality and authentic" production process of the rum.

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International Magazine April edition.

French bartender Julien Escot became the Havana Club Grand Prix cocktail champion for 2012 yesterday, after prevailing from a field of 40 bartenders.

Pernod Ricard’s CEO Piere Pringuet has spoken out about Havana Club’s flat half-year sales growth, branding its performance “disappointing”.

Havana Club grew by 15% in 2010, following strong performances in Cuba, Germany, France and the UK.

The Supreme Court of Spain has ruled in favour of Pernod Ricard and the Cuban government in the Havana Club trademark dispute with Bacardi.

Havana Club International is to launch an ultra premium rum.

Cuba: Havana Club rum sales fell by 3.5% in 2009, compared to 2008.