The Bar Journal

ART OF ITALICUS APERITIVO CHALLENGE 2021: A QUEST TO THE MOST CREATIVE APERITIVO COCKTAIL INSPIRED BY ART

LONDON, DECEMBER 2021

The Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge is back with its fourth edition. ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto launches the bartending competition, inspired by art, aperitivo and the made in Italy concept. 2021 will see the competition returning to its artistic roots – encouraging competitors to be as creative as possible with their cocktails, whilst remaining anchored to the aperitivo occasion.

Winner AOI 2019 – Paradiso, Barcellona

Bartenders from across the globe including UK, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Spain, USA, Russia and Greece, are invited to participate and tasked to create an art-inspired aperitivo cocktail that represents ITALICUS spirit at its best: elevating the aperitivo experience through excellence, innovation and creative liquid expressions.

For bartenders outside the mentioned countries, ITALICUS is introducing a ‘wild card’ entry option, where bartenders from all countries will be allowed to enter for a chance to be selected by the global team. The selected entrant will then be sent straight to the global final.

Using ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto as an ingredient, contestants are challenged with being as brave and innovative as possible with their creations.  In order to enter, bartenders must create an original aperitivo-style cocktail recipe, inspired by any form of art, using a minimum 40ml ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto.  The recipe should be submitted with measurements as well as suggested garnish, glassware and overall presentation – participants may also suggest a food pairing.

All are invited to share the recipe and entry via social media using the appropriate hashtags #italicus #rosoliodibergamotto #artofitalicus #aoi21.

The Global Winner will receive the coveted title of ITALICUS Bar Artist of the Year 2021 and a trip with a one in a life time Mentorship Program to Barcelona, city of art that captures the essence of aperitivo. The winner will meet with Marc Alvarez, Director & Founder of Drink’s Atelier at renowned bar SIPS, who are most recognised for their disruptive mixology techniques.

In March 2022, 8 competitors will be shortlisted in each region proceeding to the regional final based on a combination of their cocktail recipe, the connection between the cocktail and the art which inspired its creation, the perception of aperitivo and the social media exposure the competitor managed to generate.

The National Finals will take place between 21 March – 30 April 2022 and the eight finalists will have eight minutes to create two original serves. Each winner of the National Finals will then proceed to the Global Finals in May 2022.

In 2020 the Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge run digitally connecting 10 cities in a global campaign with the local bartenders community for a GLO-CAL inspirational journey during the pandemic hard times, with the aim to maintain alive creativity, innovation and the hospitality industry.

Brand Owner Giuseppe Gallo comments “As a team, we have such passion for art and design which is reflected in our distinctive brand so we are very excited to bring back the Art of Aperitivo Challenge this year.  The Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge is a creative platform which connects us globally with our bartending communities. Bartenders are artists and as such their art of creating drinks with different ingredients, techniques and inspirations, is an art which needs to be celebrated.”

Entries for the competition are now open and competitors can submit their cocktail at www.rosolioitalicus.com/aperitivo-challenge. and U.S. www.artofitalicus.us– they are invited to share the recipe and entry via social media using the appropriate hashtags #italicus #rosoliodibergamotto #artofitalicus #aoi21.

About ITALICUS® Rosolio Di Bergamotto

http://rosolioitalicus.com/

Instagram: @italicusrdb

Facebook: @italicusrdb

Twitter: @italicusrdb

ITALICUS was created by the authority in Italian spirits, Giuseppe Gallo to bring back the forgotten Rosolio category. With key notes of Calabrian bergamot, ITALICUS is made using the finest Italian ingredients to create a sip of Italy. The striking bottle design embodies the history and heritage of Italy’s distinctive regions, whilst telling the story of Rosolio’s time honoured traditional drinking occasion of Aperitivo.

Italicus is one of the world’s most awarded aperitivo globally. ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto was awarded Best New Spirit 2017 at the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, and Number top trending Liquor Brand by Drinks International in 2020 and 2019.

Additional awards include: Tasting GOLD medal 2018, 2019 – Women & Wine and spirits awards; Best New European Spirit at the Mixology Awards 2017 in Berlin; Best Product at FIBAR 2017; Packaging awards GOLD MEDAL 2017 and Contemporary Awards TROPHY – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2017; Packaging Trophy – Harpers Design 2017; Gold Medal – San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017; Platinum Best of Luxury – Pentawards 2017; Italian Aperitif of the year GOLD MEDAL – New York International Spirits Competition 2016; Best New Product – Bar Awards 2016; EXCEPTIONAL quality certificate – Difford’s Guide 2016.

In April 2020, ITALICUS entered into a partnership with beverage group Pernod Ricard.

About Giuseppe Gallo

Giuseppe Gallo, CEO and founder of Italicus is one of the world’s most respected mixologists, with an inherent passion for the drinks business and an inimitable source of knowledge and insight into the world of drinks. He has worked in almost every type of drinks and hospitality business over the last 20 years, most recently as Global Brand Ambassador for a vermouth brand. His success in the industry was recognised when Giuseppe was crowned Best International Brand Ambassador at Tales of the Cocktail 2014.

Hailing from the beautiful Amalfi coast in the south of Italy, although Giuseppe has international experience, his passion for mixology stems from his strong Italian heritage, dating back to his childhood, when he used to watch his mother make homemade Limoncello. Through his previous role, Giuseppe had a fundamental role in growing and shaping the vermouth category as it today.

Giuseppe has achieved an impressive reputation in the industry and is often approached to contribute to editorials for international trade media, as well as being profiled in influential titles including The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Imbibe, Vanity Fair, Forbes, Wall Street Journal and PEOPLE.

Prior to launching ITALICUS, Giuseppe helped develop and create the DrinksTube platform, as well as re-launch the entire cocktail program for Jamie’s Italian restaurants in the UK in 2015. Giuseppe is a member of the international judging committee for the Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail and is considered one of the world’s leading experts on Vermouth & Amaro. Through ITALSPIRITS he promotes Italian drinking culture around the world.