Florence Bartender Takes Altamura Crown With Unconventional Vodka Serve Michael Collovigh of Gucci Giardino in Florence has won the Altamura Distilleries Competition 2026: Italian Edition with a cocktail that pairs vodka with beetroot, miso, and soy sauce—ingredients rarely found in classic spirits drinks. The Devil's Trencadís, judged at Locale Firenze on October 9, beat four finalists to earn Collovigh a year representing the vodka brand at international bar events throughout 2027. The drink combines Altamura Distilleries Vodka with dry vermouth, fresh orange juice, and a radicchio-based Les Conspiracions cordial treated with two enzymes designed to boost flavor and reduce bitterness. Beetroot extract, miso water, and soy sauce add a savory dimension. "Michael's drink is exactly what this competition exists for," said Lorenzo Di Cola, International Head of Brand at Altamura Distilleries. "Beetroot, miso and soy have no business sitting this comfortably alongside vodka, but the savoury, peppery character of our durum wheat ties them perfectly together. Italy is producing some of the most exciting bartenders in the world, and we can't wait to put Michael in front of an international audience in 2027."
Concept Draws From Catalan Mosaic Technique Collovigh drew inspiration from Satan's Whiskers, a classic listed in The Savoy Cocktail Book, and adapted the name to reference trencadís—the Catalan mosaic technique used by architect Antoni Gaudí in which broken fragments are rearranged into new compositions. The drink can be served straight up in a Nick & Nora glass or on the rocks in a curved, colorful glass echoing Gaudí's palette, with no garnish. "I wanted to build a drink the way a chef builds a dish, layer by layer, and Altamura gave me the perfect canvas," Collovigh said. "The savoury, peppery character of the vodka lets the beetroot, miso and soy come through without losing the elegance of a classic vodka cocktail. To win in front of a panel like this, made up of bartenders I've looked up to for years, is incredible, and I can't wait to take The Devil's Trencadís to an international audience in 2027."
International Judging Panel The final was judged by five prominent figures in global hospitality: Giacomo Giannotti, founder of Paradiso in Barcelona (The World's Best Bar 2022); Stefano Catino, co-founder of Sydney's Maybe Group; Frank Maldonado, head bartender and global ambassador of Employees Only in New York; Tommy Wong, co-owner of Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou; and Giorgia Fornaciari, last year's competition winner and 2026 Altamura ambassador. Now in its second year, the competition ran four semi-finals across Italy before the final. It is designed to build an international platform for Italian bartending talent.
About Altamura Vodka Altamura Distilleries Vodka is made entirely from Altamura durum wheat grown in Puglia, the grain behind the PDO-protected Pane di Altamura bread. Triple distilled and bottled at 43% ABV, it carries notes of aniseed, cracked pepper, and lemon zest with a savory depth. The brand reported global unit sales growth exceeding 200% in 2025 and is distributed in 18 international markets and more than 27 U.S. states, including Total Wine & More and Eataly locations. It holds a 94-point rating in Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Spirits of 2025 and placed in the top 10 of Drinks International's Brands Report 2026 Bartenders' Choice list.
Why It Matters
The competition underscores a broader shift in premium cocktail culture toward savory and umami-forward drinks that challenge traditional spirit pairing conventions. For operators seeking to differentiate their bar programs, the winning formula demonstrates how a distinctive spirit character—in this case, durum wheat's peppery profile—can anchor ambitious flavor combinations.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
