The Bar Journal

ITALICUS and its global partners are thrilled to reveal the national finalists for the 7th edition of the Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge.

Celebrated by bartenders across the globe, this annual competition continues to champion innovation in aperitivo culture. Bartenders are invited to reimagine the iconic spritz cocktail—infused with artistic inspiration from fashion, architecture, music, design, or any form of art.

Each finalist has demonstrated outstanding creativity and technical skill in crafting a modern spritz using ITALICUS, standing out from hundreds of entries worldwide.

Art of Italicus 2024 Global Final

The national finalists for the 2025 edition are:

🇫🇷 France
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
Archie Lees, Tribe, Courbevoie

🇩🇪 Germany
Jan Sporleder, Bar Seibert, Kassel
Chiara Dzemajlji, Toddy Tapper, Cologne
Adelina Schefferski, Freelancer
Tomislav Martinek, Nightflight Bar, München
Clara Schoper, Zephyr Bar, München
Fuchs Carsten, Petit Frere, Köln
Dimitrios Demertzis, Bar Montez, Munich
Mario Schulz, Bar Montez, Munich

🇭🇰 Hong Kong
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, Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong
WING YI LAW, ohm… Cafe and Bar, Hong Kong
Cheuk Fung LEE, SOHO HOUSE, HONG KONG

🇭🇺 Hungary
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
Jánoczki Ádám, Beerstro Steakhouse, Budapest

🇮🇹 Italy
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, Milano
Edoardo Bullio, Romeo Cocktail Bar, Verona
Giorgia Fornaciari, Stravinskij bar at Hotel De Roussie, Rome
Ivan Forcieri, Libertine Montecatini, Terme

🇳🇿 New Zealand
Jack Driver, Regent, Wellington
Eliot Youmans, Bedford Soda & Liquor, Auckland
Dayyana Dimitrova, Jacuzzi, Auckland
Michael Jones, NoLoPlus, Wellington
Dewi Barbieri, Amano, Auckland
Cal Ross, Panacea, Auckland

🇪🇸 Spain
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
Carlos Mendoza, Selvatico la minilla, Las Palmas De Gran Canaria

🇬🇧 UK
Andres Villagomez, Side hustle/Nomad, London
Samuel Plumb, STERLING BAR, Manchester
Lorenzo Barra, Archive and 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
David Purkiss, Lab 22, Cardiff

🇺🇸 USA
Kevan Ash, The Roosevelt Room, Austin
Dragan Milivojevic, Papercut, Austin
Victor Uceda-Vereau, Bar Kaiju, Miami
Juan Jose Pulgarin Morales, Maple and Ash, Chicago
Jason Trevino, Double Chicken Please, New York City
Joseph Venezia, Marcelino’s, Boston
Daniel Torres, Funke/Bar Funke, Beverly Hills
David Lozano, ORO, Miami

🌍 Wild Card Entry
Noemi Marras, Widder Bar, Zurich

All national finalists will compete in their respective country’s National Final between May and June 2025, with winners heading to the Global Final on 7th July 2025. This year’s grand finale will be held in Monaco, France at the iconic Blue Gin Bar, bringing together some of the finest talents in the international bartending community.

Winners from each nation will vie for the prestigious title of ITALICUS Bar Artist of the Year 2025, with a career-changing mentorship and exclusive industry access led by Lorenzo Antinori, creator of Asia’s Best Bar 2024, Bar Leone.

Grazie mille to all who submitted their creations, and buona fortuna to our national finalists—we can’t wait to see your artistry come to life in Monaco!

#Italicus #ArtofItalicus #AOI25 #RosolioDiBergamotto