The Bar Journal

The highly anticipated Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge is back for its seventh edition, and 2025 promises to be the most exciting yet!

With a fresh focus on creativity and innovation, ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto is calling on bartenders worldwide to reimagine the modern spritz. With an esteemed mentorship prize and a grand final in Europe, this year’s competition is set to redefine the boundaries of aperitivo culture.

A Prestigious Prize & Global Recognition

The 2025 ITALICUS Bar Artist of the Year will receive an exclusive mentorship programme featuring access to the world’s top bar industry events. The winner will also have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate with Lorenzo Antinori, the visionary behind Hong Kong’s celebrated Bar Leone—ranked #1 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 and #2 globally.

Lorenzo Antinori of Bar Leone, Winners of Best Bar in Asia at 50 Best ’24

Speaking about the challenge, Giuseppe Gallo, founder and CEO of ITALICUS, shared:

“As we celebrate the seventh edition of the Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge, we continue to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the aperitivo tradition. This year’s focus on reimagining the spritz reflects our commitment to keeping the ritual fresh, exciting, and relevant.”

A New Way to Spritz

The spritz is an iconic part of aperitivo culture, known for its light, refreshing appeal. As its popularity grows worldwide, ITALICUS continues to champion the artistry behind the perfect aperitivo serve.

According to Roberta Mariani, Advocacy Director for ITALICUS:

“The spritz has become a global phenomenon thanks to its versatility and sophistication. With this year’s challenge, we encourage bartenders to blend tradition with innovation, drawing inspiration from various art forms, such as painting, music, architecture, and fashion.”

How to Enter the 2025 Challenge

Since its launch in 2018, the Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge has celebrated bartenders as artists, giving them a platform to showcase their talents and creativity. This year, the competition expands to 10 countries, welcoming participants from:

France | Germany | Hong Kong | Hungary | Italy | New Zealand | Spain | UK | USA | Wild Card Entry

Last years winner, Esmeralda Castrogiovanni, at the Global Final in Rome | Prize: Mentorship at Cafe La Trova, Miami ‘24

Competition Guidelines:

• Bartenders must create an original spritz cocktail using a minimum of 40ml ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto and no more than five ingredients.
• Submissions must include:
  • Recipe details
  • Image of the cocktail
  • Glassware and garnish specifications
  • The inspiration behind the creation
• Applications open 10th February 2025 and close 28th April 2025 at www.artofitalicus.com.
• Entrants are encouraged to share their creations on social media using #ITALICUS #ROSOLIODIBERGAMOTTO #ARTOFITALICUS #AOI25.

National & Global Finals

National Finals will take place between May and June 2025, where eight shortlisted bartenders per country will present their cocktails to a panel of esteemed judges. Winners from each country will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Global Final in Europe at the beginning of July 2025.

At the Global Final, bartenders will compete for the prestigious title of ITALICUS Bar Artist of the Year 2025, showcasing the most innovative spritz cocktails of the year.

Art of Italicus

Supporting the Hospitality Community

In the U.S., ITALICUS is partnering with Another Round Another Rally and Imbibe to support hospitality professionals through education and financial aid. Together, they will oversee U.S. applications, strengthening the competition’s impact and reach.

For more information about the Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge 2025, visit www.artofitalicus.com.

Follow ITALICUS on social media:

• Instagram: @italicusrdb
• Facebook: @ItalicusAperitivo
• Website: www.rosolioitalicus.com

Salute!