The Bar Journal

Giuseppe Gallo, Founder of Italspirits, a spirits brands marketing, and drinks strategy agency, appointed Roberta Mariani as Global Advocacy Director earlier this year and now welcomes Palmira Bertuca as Aperitivo Specialist for Italy. This dynamic team, with strong expertise in the beverage industry, will persist in fortifying the positions of the brands, both on the international stage and within Italy.

Born in Calabria but raised in Bologna, Palmira brings international hospitality experience from around the world, including roles at Edition in London, Bar Machiavelli in Sydney, Soho House in Barcelona, and InterContinental in Singapore. She returned to Italy in 2021 as Bar Manager at The Social Hub in Florence. In her new role with Italspirits, she will look after the education and promotional programs for aperitivo brands: ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto, SAVOIA Rosso, and Orancio. 

Roberta Mariani explains, “The choice to include Palmira Bertuca in the team aligns with Italspirits’ mission of leveraging industry talents, providing them the opportunity to express passion and grow expertise. Palmira will bring innovative ideas from her extensive international experiences to Italy”

“In this new adventure,” says Palmira, “I bring with me the skills acquired from my experiences abroad, continuous research, and experimentation—a constant drive to be more creative in the art of bartending, coupled with care and attention to the consumer and the product.

In the coming months, Roberta Mariani and the Italspirits Advocacy team will lead new programs and experiences for the brands while working on the planning of the Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge 2024 edition, going live in January 2024.

ITALICUS and SAVOIA brands are becoming major players in the international bartending scene with the increased awareness of Rosolio, Bitter, and Vermouth categories in the Aperitivo culture. There’s a growing demand for quality, low-alcohol, and vegan-friendly products, and Italspirits is ready to meet these new needs. Furthermore, the aim is to innovate the classics of the past, such as aperitifs and cocktails that have shaped the history of mixed drinks. According to the two experts, brands of this kind are destined to endure over time.

Salute!

Italspirits Team