Amaro Montenegro has announced The Vero Bartender UK final will take place on September 5th, during which finalists from around the country will compete for the title of UK Vero Bartender.
After a two-year hiatus due to the global pandemic, The Vero Bartender is returning for a third time. The Italian word “vero” in The Vero Bartender translates to “true” in English.
It stands for the brand’s "authentic heritage and the genuine human connections it generates when served". With this in mind, the theme for 2022’s edition is Sharing the Essence; bartenders had to create a large-format sharing cocktail that tells the story of a metaphorical or physical journey or adventure that has inspired them. After endless months apart, the winning cocktail will capture a bartender’s unique skill in the art of creating moments of meaningful togetherness."
A total of 10 finalists have been selected to make their cocktail creation at The Light Bar, Shoreditch, London E1 on the 5th of September, 2022 in front of a live panel of judges including global industry legend Alex Kratena, alongside Cristiana Pirinu who won the UK title in 2019, Hamish Smith, Editor of Class Magazine, and Rudi Carraro, Amaro Montenegro’s illustrious Global Brand Ambassador.
From there, one winner will be selected to compete against other bartenders from all over the world in the global final of The Vero Bartender in Italy.
The winner of the national final will be awarded with an Amaro Montenegro residency trip to Italy during the week of the Global Final to take part in brand experiences and seminars in the enchanting region of Emilia Romagna. The winners will also have the opportunity to meet and spend time with some of the most influential bartenders in the world; previous years have been judged by the likes of Erik Lorincz, Salvatore Calabrese, Alex Kratena, and the legendary Peter Dorelli.
Alex Kratena added: “The Amaro Montenegro Vero Bartender Competition is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the UK’s bartending calendar. The standard is always exceptionally high with this competition, which is why I’m super excited to be a judge this year.”
The finalists are:
Dominic Horsley The Botanist, Leeds
Emilio Giovanazzi Gleneagles Hotel, Perth and Kinross
Grant Coffield The Gannet Restaurant, Glasgow
Joseph Theo Millar Loose Cannon Cocktail Bar, Bristol
Joshua Brown Science and Industry Bar, Manchester
Katie Rouse Couch Bar, Birmingham
Liam Grogan The Absent Ear, Glasgow
Lorenzo Ammirata Milk Thistle, Bristol
Matteo Basso The Malt Lounge & Bar, London
Mia Kumari Homeboy, London
To learn more about Amaro Montenegro and The Vero Bartender, please visit here and follow #AmaroMontenegro and #TheVeroBartender on the brand's Instagram: @amaromontenegro_ww.