ADRIATICO x Difford’s Guide Cocktail Competition 2026

Celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and a global community of cocktail lovers

What began on National Amaretto Day quickly became something much bigger than we could have imagined. In April 2026, ADRIATICO and Difford’s Guide launched our very first worldwide online cocktail competition, inviting both professional bartenders and home cocktail enthusiasts to create contemporary recipes using ADRIATICO Amaretto, ADRIATICO Bianco and ADRIATICO Amaretto Zero. Over the following weeks, we received hundreds of entries from around the world. From Europe to Asia, from professional bars to home cocktail stations, the creativity and passion shown by participants exceeded all expectations. The quality of the recipes, photographs and concepts made judging an exciting — and sometimes incredibly difficult — task.

Our ambition was simple: to discover delicious contemporary cocktails that could easily be recreated in bars and homes everywhere. Judging by the enthusiasm and talent shown by the participants, we believe that mission was accomplished.

Professional Bartenders

Winner: 

The Godson by Nils Roth

Inspired by the legendary Godfather family of cocktails, The Godson impressed the judges with its bright, youthful character and elegant simplicity. Fine sherry notes and a subtle touch of banana liqueur created a cocktail that perfectly demonstrated that sometimes the simplest ideas are the most memorable.

Runner-up: 

Cloud Island by Enrica Falamischia

A beautifully indulgent yet refreshing cocktail, Cloud Island stood out for its balance and texture. Citrusy and delicate, it showcased a playful and contemporary approach while remaining highly approachable.

Cocktail Enthusiasts

Winner: 

ADRIATICO Cloud Fizz by Leroy Lim

Among the home cocktail category, ADRIATICO Cloud Fizz captured the judges’ attention with its creamy texture, freshness and remarkable depth of flavour. Nutty, silky and perfectly balanced, it embodied the versatility of ADRIATICO in a modern serve.

Runner-up: 

Amaretto Ritrovato by Grace Lui

With notes of almond, coconut and pandan layered over subtle hints of mezcal, Amaretto Ritrovato delivered complexity and elegance while maintaining excellent balance.

Entries were evaluated on taste, ease of replication, originality, naming, visual presentation and overall potential to become a contemporary classic.

The judging panel consisted of:
- Mathilde De Salivet De Fouchecour – ADRIATICO Brand Developer
- Erwan Le Bonniec – ADRIATICO Brand Ambassador Nordics
- Al Sotack – ADRIATICO Brand Ambassador New York
- Simon Difford – Founder of Difford’s Guide

Selecting the winners proved to be no easy task. With so many outstanding entries, discussions were lively and every cocktail was carefully considered. More than anything, the competition demonstrated the incredible creativity of the global cocktail community.
This project would not have been possible without the invaluable support and collaboration of Simon Difford, whose passion, expertise and commitment helped turn an idea into a truly international event. Special thanks also go to Paloma, whose support behind the scenes played an important role throughout the competition.
And, of course, thank you to everyone who entered.

Whether you were a professional bartender or simply someone who enjoys mixing drinks at home, you helped make this first edition a remarkable success. Seeing so many people reinterpret ADRIATICO through their own creativity has been inspiring, and we are deeply grateful to every participant who shared their work with us. We are already looking forward to the next edition and to discovering even more delicious, unexpected and inspiring creations from around the world.

Congratulations once again to all our winners and participants, and thank you for making the first ADRIATICO x Difford’s Guide Cocktail Competition such a memorable experience. 

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