NZ finalists announced for Art of Italicus competition

The New Zealand finalists in the global Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge have been announced, alongside those from nine other countries.

This is the first year that New Zealand has been invited to participate in the global cocktail competition, which challenges bartenders to create an original aperitivo-style cocktail using a minimum of 40ml ITALICUS, with inspiration drawn from any art form.

Italicus is one of the top-awarded aperitivo brands globally and is distributed in New Zealand by Tickety-Boo Liquor.

For 2025, the competition accepted entries from France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, UK, USA, and a Wild Card entry open to bartenders from other nations.

The national finalists from each country will now compete in their National Finals during May and June 2025. The winners will be invited to showcase their creations at the Global Final on 7th July 2025, hosted at the Blue Gin Bar in Monaco, France.

The New Zealand national finalists for the 2025 edition are:

• Jack Driver – Regent, Wellington

• Eliot Youmans – Bedford Soda & Liquor, Auckland

• Michael Jones – NoLoPlus, Wellington

• Dewi Barbieri – Amano, Auckland

• Cal Ross – Panacea, Auckland

• Dayyana Dimitrova – Jacuzzi, Auckland

This year’s global winner will earn the title of Italicus Bar Artist of the Year 2025 and receive a bespoke mentorship programme, including exclusive access to top international bar industry events, alongside a rare opportunity to collaborate with Lorenzo Antinori, founder of Bar Leone (Asia’s Best Bar 2024 and #2 in the world).