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The 2019 ranking of the 100 most important bars and bartenders in the world drawn up by Drinks International has finally been released and, surprise, there are also many Italians! We say "surprise" because generally international rankings snub Italy, focusing more on England and America, despite the fact that Italy and its great bartenders have made the history of international mixing.
Fortunately, thanks above all to the qualitative and quantitative growth of high-level cocktail bars, today our country can also have its say in the world, and the ranking that we will soon show you will confirm this.
In fact, there are 5 Italian bartenders who appear there, 3 of whom work in Italy:
Simone Caporale, The Connaught, London
Ago Perrone, P(oor), London
Diego Ferrari, Milan
Mario Farulla, Baccano, Rome
Leonardo Leuci, Jerry Thomas, Rome
Compared to the World's Best Bars ranking, which did not include even one Italian among its ranks, the Drinks International ranking rewards what in our country could be defined as a Renaissance of national mixing, increasingly under the spotlight, curated, technical and international . In fact, for a few years now, the public's appreciation and the attention of the trade press have rewarded the commitment of the many professionals who work every day behind the bar counter, increasingly dynamic and capable of intercepting contemporary trends without forget the great Italian philosophy, which especially in 2019, with the hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Negroni, is proving to have a lot to say.
Let's enjoy the complete ranking then here.
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Carlos
12/12/2022 at 12:34In Italy we have very good bartenders. Having only three in this ranking seems small to me.
Simone Mole, Vittorio Pagliara, Daniele Abrugia, Salvatore Calabrese, Vanzan and many others are no exception.
It's difficult to make these rankings.
Valerio
29/05/2024 at 18:23I understand your frustration with the lack of recognition of world-class Italian bartenders. It is true that Italy boasts a host of exceptional talents in the bartending world, often overlooked compared to their international peers.
I had the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with masters of the caliber of Salvatore Calabrese, Fulvio Piccinino, Dario Comini, Daniele Abrugia, Bruno Vanzan and Luca Cinalli, which demonstrates how the Italian scene is rich in skills and professionalism.
However, there is no denying that London is currently considered the bartending capital of the world, attracting top talent from around the world.
Mauro M.
21/06/2024 at 18:18Carlos I believe that defining a bartender as the “best ever” is a difficult and subjective task, as it depends on personal tastes and variable evaluation criteria. However, it is possible to identify some key aspects that can be: In-depth knowledge of spirits and liqueurs, ability to create new cocktails, accuracy in presentation, communication and relational skills, professional ethics and 100 other things. I believe that today image and social media count a lot. This is why Vanzan is considered a great bartender, or RDA or Daniel of mixology to the detriment of people who have been orbiting in this sector for years as bar managers, brand ambassadors, spirits specialists like those you mentioned above.
Julius
13/07/2024 at 20:33You are right, Italy boasts an extraordinary tradition and a truly exceptional bartending school. Names like Simone Mole, Vittorio Pagliara, Daniele Abrugia, Salvatore Calabrese and Bruno Vanzan are examples of talent and mastery in the field of mixology. It is always complicated to draw up rankings because many factors come into play, and talent is not measured only by prizes and awards. The important thing is to recognize and celebrate the quality and passion of all our bartenders, who with their creativity and dedication continue to raise the level of drinking culture in Italy and around the world.