An exceptional cocktail has the same magical powers of a timeless song, it can emotionally transport you to another time and place. Miss Nellie's Chan Chan cocktail does just that and takes you on a time-traveling journey back to Cuba with each sip. Inspired by its namesake song by Buena Vista Social Club and in collaboration with the Tony® and GRAMMY® Award-winning Broadway musical, the Chan Chan is more than a thematic tie-in: it's a liquid interpretation of the song's soulful cadence and a storytelling of Cuban culture.

Andy Flynn, Miss Nellie's Bar Manager and the creator of the Chan Chan, shares, "We named the cocktail Chan Chan after Buena Vista Social Club’s iconic song because we wanted the drink to feel like the music: warm, tropical, and effortless. Havana Club Blanco, pineapple, coconut, cucumber, and lime keep it fresh and vibrant, while a cream cheese float adds a surprising, creamy finish inspired by Cuban dessert traditions. Overall it's a refreshing balance that mirrors the effortless feeling of listening to “Chan Chan” on a warm evening. The goal was to bottle Havana and pour it into a glass." 

The song it honors is a Cuban son, a folkloric story of two characters, Chan Chan and Juanica, building a life by the sea. To translate that coastal warmth, Flynn built the drink on a backbone of Havana Club Blanco Añejo, a Cuban-style rum rooted in tradition. He layered the fruit and citrus into a profile that is bright and tropical, yet disciplined.

​But the real intentional culture flex for the industry crowd is that cream cheese foam. It’s more than just a twist; it’s a calculated move to introduce a savory, lactic weight that rounds out the acidity of the lime and pineapple. It’s a quiet nod to the queso crema pastelitos sitting in the ventanitas of Miami and Havana, providing a texture that lingers long after the citrus fades.

​For Flynn, the name "Chan Chan" is more than a tribute—it’s the drink’s emotional foundation. The cocktail earns its place alongside the iconic song by mirroring its unfolding layers and its quiet, powerful sense of place. Just like the music, the flavor has a beautiful, steady, soulful cadence—a hit of pure, cool nostalgia that transports you straight to a Cuban bakery window, right in the heart of NYC's Theater District.

The Chan Chan gives you a very good reason to head to Times Square, but hurry, it is only available through March.

Photo Courtesy of Havana Club

Chan Chan Recipe

By Andy Flynn, Bar Manager, Miss Nellie's

  • Havaña Club Blanco Añejo
  • Coconut
  • Pineapple
  • Cucumber
  • Lime Juice
  • Topped with a Cream Cheese Float
Miss Nellie’s — 325 West 44th Street, New York, NY

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