Art of Italicus unveils national finalists
Italian brand Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto has revealed the national finalists for the seventh edition of the Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge.
The Art of Italicus annual global cocktail competition celebrates the creativity and craft of bartenders reimagining the modern Spritz.
The challenge, now in its seventh year, highlights innovative talent from around the world.
This year, bartenders were asked to create an original aperitivo-style cocktail using at least 40ml of Italicus, drawing inspiration from any art form, including sculpture and cinema.
National finals will be hosted in May and June 2025, with competitors from the UK, the US, France, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Hungary, Germany, and New Zealand.
The winners from each national heat will be invited to showcase their creations at the global final on 7 July 2025, hosted at Blue Gin bar in Monaco, France.
The 2025 Italicus Bar Artist of the Year will receive a customised mentorship programme, including exclusive access to international bar industry events, along with an opportunity to collaborate with Lorenzo Antinori, founder of Bar Leone in Hong Kong.
Giuseppe Gallo, founder and CEO of Pernod Ricard-backed Italicus, said: “With each year, the Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge continues to champion the aperitivo ritual while honouring bartenders as true artists. This edition brings a renewed focus on reimagining the Spritz – a timeless serve – through the lens of modern creativity.”
National finalists
From the UK, the eight finalists are Andres Villagomez (Side Hustle and Nomad, London), Samuel Plumb (Sterling Bar, Manchester), Lorenzo Barra (Archive & Myth, London), Dionysios Tzorouchof (Twice Shy, London), Callum Lister (Common’s Club, Edinburgh), Daniele Fierro (The Guards Bar & Lounge at The Raffles Hotel, London), Jelena Bulatovskaja (Sexy Fish, London), and David Purkiss (Lab 22, Cardiff).
In the US finals, nine bartenders are set to go head-to-head: Kevan Ash (The Roosevelt Room, Austin, Texas), Dragan Milivojevic (Papercut, Austin, Texas), Victor Uceda-Vereau (Bar Kaiju, Miami, Florida), Juan Jose Pulgarin Morales (Maple and Ash, Chicago, Illinois), Jason Trevino (Double Chicken Please, New York City, NY), Joseph Venezia (Marcelino’s, Boston, Massachusetts), Daniel Torres (Funke and Bar Funke, Beverly Hills, California), David Lozano (Oro, Miami, Florida), and from Mexico City, Angel Ricardo Rodríguez Herrera (Bijou).
In France, eight finalists include Connan Henry-Madden (Un Bar avec des Formes pour Nom, Bordeaux), Donovan Chouari (Bar 1802, Paris), Polina Kirdohlo (Bistro Renee, Nice), Miguel Teixeira (Renard Bar, Paris), Nicolas Bracq (Le Prechoir, Rouen), Anthony Teyssier (Mimo, Lyon), Lucas Nardin (Red Poppy, Paris), and Archie Lees (Tribe, Courbevoie).
Eight mixologists representing Italian flair are: Valerio Izzo (Shub, Sorrento), Marco Colasanti (Depero, Rieti), Vincenzo Palumbo (L’antiquario, Napoli), Nausica Vitali (Pastificio San Lorenzo, Rome), Alia Melis (Rita’s Tiki Room, Milan), Edoardo Bullio (Romeo Cocktail Bar, Verona), Giorgia Fornaciari (Stravinskij Bar at Hotel De Roussie, Rome), and Ivan Forcieri (Libertine, Montecatini Terme).
In Spain, another eight bartenders are set to compete, including Almudena Castro (Dr Stravinsky, Barcelona), Cristina Raulea (Naked and Famous, Sevilla), Vincenzo Amorese (Bad Company 1920, Madrid), Ainara Fernández (Cream Coffee & Cocktail, Almeria), Maurizio Santo Carlea (Soho House, Barcelona), Lewis Kay (Two Schmucks, Barcelona), Angel García (El Coleccionista, Madrid), and Carlos Mendoza (Selvático la Minilla, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).
The eight national finalists in Hong Kong are Luna Fukuhara (Gokan, Central), Tsz Ting Adela Au (To Autumn, Tuen Mun), Shing Fei Lee (Dio West Kowloon, Kowloon), Harveer Singh (Champagne Bar Grand Hyatt, Wan Chai), Wong Chung Hang Jackie (Quinary, Hong Kong), Chaser, Wai Yim Lo (Red Sugar at The Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong), Wing Yi Law (Ohm… Cafe and Bar, Hong Kong), and Cheuk Fung Lee (Soho House, Hong Kong).
The Hungarian division will include Mirjam Szabo (Tuk Tuk Bar, Budapest), Péter Gelencsér (Black Swan, Budapest), Bence Stadler (Virtu Restaurant, Budapest), Máté Főnyedi (Hotsy Totsy, Budapest), Nazif Ezer (Türkız Budapest, Budapest) Péter Kovács (Blue Fox The Bar, Budapest), Bence Németh (Higgi The Tiki, Győr), and Jánoczki Ádám (Beerstro Steakhouse, Budapest).
In Germany, the eight regional finalists include Jan Sporleder (Bar Seibert, Kassel), Chiara Dzemajlji (Toddy Tapper, Cologne), Adelina Schefferski (Hamburg), Tomislav Martinek (Nightflight Bar, München), Clara Schoper (Zephyr Bar, München), Carsten Fuchs (Petit Frere, Köln), Dimitrios Demertzis (Bar Montez, Munich), and Mario Schulz (Bar Montez, Munich).
Six bartenders will be competing in New Zealand: Jack Driver (Regent, Wellington), Eliot Youmans (Bedford Soda & Liquor, Auckland), Michael Jones (NoLoPlus, Wellington), Dewi Barbieri (Amano, Auckland), Cal Ross (Panacea, Auckland), and Dayyana Dimitrova (Jacuzzi, Auckland).
The 2025 wild card is Noemi Marras from Widder Bar in Zurich, Switzerland.
Last month, the group behind Italicus and Savoia announced it would no longer take part in the organisation of the 2025 edition of Roma Bar Show (26-27 May).
Related news
Neurita gains UK on-trade listings
