Italicus Art of Aperitivo Challenge 2023

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The Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge is back for 2023 with its fifth edition. Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto invites bartenders across the globe to create an original aperitivo cocktail inspired by any form of art.

The Art of Italicus aperitivo challenge is built on the belief that bartenders are artists and the program is designed to incentivise them to be as creative as possible by bringing the industry together to create art-inspired cocktails that best represent an elevated aperitivo experience, whilst showcasing the Italicus spirit through creative liquid expressions. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate heightened sustainability into their creations.

The prize

The global winner will be crowned 'the Italicus bar artist of the year' and have the opportunity to experience a mentorship program with the world's No.1 bar, Paradiso Barcelona and Giacomo Giannotti. During the experience, the winner will be accompanied by Shoshin Art Club, the international bartender's educational platform created by Valentino Longo, to document the full experience in a video episode which will be featured amongst the courses available on the website.

Open to bartenders around the world

The competition will be opened in 11 countries: Italy, Spain, USA, UK, Croatia and Slovenia region, France, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland. All other bartenders not resident in these countries will be able to apply through a Wild Card entry, having the opportunity to win a spot to the global final, in Rome at the end of May.

Enter

Bartenders are encouraged to enter from the 9th of January through to 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 8th of March 2023 via rosolioItalicus.com .

• Competitors are tasked to create an original aperitivo cocktail using a minimum 40ml of Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto and including a sustainable ingredient or garnish.
• To be in with a chance of winning, all applicants must upload the recipe and a photo of their creation - alongside measurements, garnishes and glassware to the competition website by 6th March 2023 (best to enter early than risk leaving too late).
• Bartenders are encouraged to develop and test their cocktail with consumers ahead of the competition and to share their creations on social media using the following hashtags: #Italicus #ROSOLIODIBERGAMOTTO #ARTOFItalicus #AOI2023.

Regional Finals

Shortlisted applicants will be notified in March 2023, with eight competitors from each region invited to participate in their Regional Final. Participants will be selected to progress to their National Final based on a combination of:
- their cocktail recipe creativity
- the connection between the cocktail and the art which inspired its creation
- the perception of the aperitivo and the social media attraction the competitor managed to generate (tracked using the hashtags above).

National Finals

National Finals will take place during March and April 2023 with eight finalists in each being given five minutes to prepare "mise en place" and eight minutes to present to the judges and prepare a minimum of four serves of their cocktail.

Global Finals

Each National winner will progress on to the global final, to be held in Rome at the end of May 2023. All national winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the final and the global winner of the AOI aperitivo challenge 2023 will receive the coveted title of Italicus Bar Artist of the Year 2023 and an exclusive mentorship opportunity with Giacomo Giannotti, Italian bartender and head of Paradiso Cocktail Bar, Barcelona which was recently awarded 'Best Bar in the World' by the 50 Best Bars 2022. The winner will also receive a yearly subscription to the Shoshin Arts Club, a virtual hub offering subscribers the chance to explore all possible bar-related topics and the ability to learn from world-class mixologists.