In a bold move celebrating Italian bartending talent, Altamura Distilleries has announced the judges and locations for the live semi-finals of its inaugural Italia Cocktail Competition. This nationwide event challenges the very perception of vodka, inviting mixologists across Italy to reinvent classic cocktails that traditionally exclude the spirit by using the award-winning Altamura Distilleries Vodka as their cornerstone.
Launched on September 1st, the competition immediately garnered a wave of creative entries from bartenders eager to put their unique spin on timeless recipes like the Negroni, Manhattan, or Daiquiri. The initiative now moves from the page to the stage, with three pivotal semi-final events set to take place across Italy’s most dynamic cocktail cities this October. The journey to the crown will see competitors battle it out in three regional heats, each judged by a panel of Italy’s most esteemed bar professionals:
Milan – 13 October at Moebius: Judged by Edoardo Sandri, Matteo Zed, Chiara Degli Innocenti, and Gilberto Sicchiero
Rome – 14 October at Hotel de Russie: Judged by Antonio Ferrara, Ansony Murcia, Carlo Carnevale, and Frank Grillo
Naples – 15 October at Astronomia Bar Segreto: Judged by Martina Bonci, Matti Capezzuoli, Giampiero Francesca, and Ivan Barnabà
One victor from each city will earn a place in the Grand Final, held on 9-10 November at the revered Locale in Florence. There, they will present their creations before a panel of globally renowned mixologists for the ultimate prize.
A Creative Mission: Beyond the Expected
The competition honours Italy’s rich cocktail legacy while actively investing in its future. The three finalists will receive an unparalleled career-development opportunity: access to four of the world’s most influential hospitality events, including The World’s 50 Best Hotels celebration, Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, the Roma Bar Show, and the Athens Bar Show.
This prize package offers global exposure, inspiration, and connections with the leaders shaping modern mixology. “Any other spirit would face challenges across the full cocktail repertoire. Vodka doesn’t,” said Lorenzo Di Cola, Head of Brand at Altamura Distilleries. “Our vodka goes further — its structure and depth allow bartenders to explore new dimensions while staying true to the soul of the classics. This competition is about celebrating that freedom and creativity.” As the semi-finals approach, Altamura Distilleries invites the industry to watch as Italy’s finest bartenders push boundaries and demonstrate what vodka can achieve—not just with vodka, but because of it.
