Cocktails in Paris

This year, I had the privilege of being invited to Italy by the BlueBlazeR, an iconic collective known for shaping and celebrating Italian contemporary cocktail culture. What followed was a whirlwind tour across Rimini, Verona, and a quick stop in Milan plus the honour of speaking at one of the most influential hospitality fairs in Europe, the Beer & Food Attraction.

Many things make Italy special, but when you speak about bars, Italy ranked second in the number of venues featured in the Top 500 Bars 2025, a position strengthened by its enduring cultural bond with the aperitivo—a ritual that traces its origins to ancient Rome, where pre‑meal drinks like mulsum were enjoyed to stimulate the appetite. This lineage evolved into its modern form in the late 18th century with the creation of vermouth in Turin, a development that helped establish aperitivo as a defining element of Italian social life.

Today, the tradition continues to embody the Italian ethos of conviviality—an effortless blend of craftsmanship, leisure, and shared connection—underscoring why Italy remains such a powerful and enduring influence in shaping global taste and lifestyle trends.

Italians make it better when it comes to hospitality, for sure!

Rimini — Beer & Food Attraction: A Roundtable on the Future of Mixology

My first stop was Rimini, where I took part in the surprisingly gigantic Beer & Food Attraction, a national gathering point for trends, innovations, and dialogues in the beverage industry. I was invited to speak at a roundtable dedicated to the future of mixology in Europe, sharing the stage with passionate professionals and visionaries from around the region.

Lucky me, I had many things to share as France is entering a fascinating era in cocktail culture — and I could feel genuine curiosity from the Italian audience as I spoke about what I think is going to be a year bringing lots of opportunities for bars outside Paris and big cities for a change:

France’s countryside Growing Presence on the International Cocktail Map

• 50 Best Bars Europe making its debut this year — a milestone that’s already creating waves in the national bar community.
• Bartenders Choice Awards expanding into France for the first time, providing a new platform for recognition and excellence.
• And the launch of the French Bar Awards, an initiative set to energize and unite the country’s bar professionals in a way that feels long overdue.

I’ll talk more about that in a future article.

To recover from the stress of public speaking (although this time I did show some improvement!) we went to a few local bars that were receiving European guest shifts. I’ve had the best ever dessert in a glass, with a cocktail inspired by the key lime pie – apparently a trend in Madrid (I need to go back soon!) – by Planta Baja Madrid at Timeless Rimini: mamamia!!

Moonshiner Paris at Naked Rimini without the preps (thanks to the surprise snow in Paris) and Barrier bar for a spotless shift.

A last minute change of plans brought us Stravinskij Bar’guestshift from Hotel de Russie Roma instead of Dirty Dick Paris (quite a different vibe but somehow very fitting!) to Hawaiki!

Shub Sorrento at Racine : with a twist on the 1910 cocktail (a classic I haven’t heard of before) and it was amazing! 1789: fusetti cacao, martell cognac vsop, del maguey vida mezcal, bitters and Truth and Dare : with a twist of the Shakerato, Sha – karate: fusetti bitter, pandan, yuzu- that was perfect!

Verona — Archivio, Amaro & the Beauty of Italian Hospitality

After Rimini, the BlueBlazeR crew whisked us north to Verona — the city of luuuv. And yes, I did catch a glimpse of Giulietta’s balcony from afar… though Romeo was nowhere to be found.

Italy is also the only place where you’ll ever see me ordering a Spritz, and this time I finally took a moment to dig into its origins. The drink was born in the Veneto region, in northeastern Italy, during the Austro‑Hungarian occupation in the early 19th century. Austrian soldiers stationed there found the local wines a bit too strong for their liking, so they asked tavern keepers to “spritzen”—to splash in some water to lighten the alcohol.

And as for the rest of the story… well, I’ll let you do your own research!

 We visited a few bars:

Archivio

A small, character-rich bar that embodies the soul of Italian aperitivo culture. Archivio is warm, unpretentious, and quietly brilliant: a place where every bottle tells a story and every drink seems to carry a piece of Verona with it, where I had a proper Campari Shakerato cocktail.

Amaro

As the name suggests, Amaro celebrates the Italian tradition of bitter liqueurs — but with a modern, creative approach. The cocktails are thoughtful and expressive, balancing heritage with innovation. You taste history and experimentation in the same sip, and I’ve had a flight of Negronis cocktails after the Truth and Dare shift.

We even added a last stop at Velvet Verona for some luxurious experience!

In Verona, hospitality isn’t something bars try to create — it simply exists, naturally and generously. And as someone coming from Paris, it felt refreshing to experience such intimacy and warmth around the counter 😊

Milan — A Pilgrimage to Camparino in Galleria

My final stop was Milan, and no visit to the city is complete without stopping at Camparino in Galleria, a true institution in Italian cocktail history.
A cathedral of aperitivo culture, Camparino blends immaculate technique with timeless tradition. The view over the Duomo was breathtaking and a little bird told me to try the club sandwich there and yes, it was a memorable experience!

In the end, what struck me most throughout this journey is how deeply the BlueBlazeR shape Italy’s modern bar identity. They don’t just document the scene — they connect it, elevate it, and protect its spirit. For ten years, they’ve been mapping the country’s most inspiring venues, championing bartenders long before they become household names, and giving Italian hospitality the visibility it deserves on the European and World stage.

Their work keeps Italy’s cocktail culture rooted in its heritage while pushing it confidently toward the future. From small neighbourhood bars to internationally acclaimed institutions, the BlueBlazeR shine a light on the people and places that make Italy such an essential reference in global mixology.

And traveling with them made it even clearer: Italy isn’t just a destination for great drinks — it’s a living ecosystem of passion, craftsmanship, and generosity. Thanks to the BlueBlazeR, that ecosystem continues to grow, connect, and inspire far beyond its borders.

As I returned to Paris, I carry with me not only unforgettable memories but also a renewed admiration for what Italy brings to our industry — and for the people who work tirelessly to keep its culture alive, relevant, and beautifully human.

RIP Martin.