DryMilano is celebrating its 13th anniversary by turning its attention to the wider cocktail industry. On September 20 and 21, the Milan bar will welcome around 30 bartenders for two evenings exploring the changing geography of cocktail culture and the importance of community.
The first will spotlight international talent from cities emerging beyond the industry’s traditional capitals. The second will bring together Milan’s own bartenders, emphasizing collaboration over competition. Food and its relationship with cocktails will also play a central role.
DryMilano Turns 13
When DryMilano opened in 2013, its concept was unusual for the time: pairing cocktails with pizza and extending the possibilities of food and drink pairing beyond the familiar territory of fine dining.
The idea caught on and established the foundations for what would become a lasting presence in Milan’s hospitality scene. Thirteen years later, DryMilano remains a fixture in a city where bars and restaurants come and go at a remarkable pace. For Lorenzo Sirabella and Edris Al Malat, the two driving forces behind the venue, there is plenty to celebrate.
A New Cocktail Geography: Beyond the Usual Capitals
The anniversary celebrations begin with an international perspective. Rather than looking to the established cocktail capitals of London, New York and Paris, DryMilano is focusing on cities that are increasingly shaping the industry in their own right.
Over the past several years, ambitious cocktail programs have emerged across the globe, expanding the geography of high-end mixology well beyond its traditional centers. For its anniversary, DryMilano has chosen to highlight eight cities: Split, Namur, Thessaloniki, Prague, Oslo, Istanbul, Lisbon and Athens.
The selection reflects a curatorial approach more commonly associated with literary, music or film festivals. Rather than attempting to represent an entire industry, the organizers have chosen a particular perspective through which to examine it.
On Sunday, September 20, the international lineup will feature Emanuel Minez and Bruno Albuquerque de Castro of 18.68 Cocktail Boutique in Lisbon; Adrian Michalcik of About Contrasts in Oslo; Ivana Bjelis and Anteo Ivanisevic of Bar Sistema in Split; Ilias Gkivisis of Barro Negro in Athens; Valentin Norberg and Charlie Guilliams of Botanical by Alfonse in Namur; Jan Budil of Forbina in Prague; Vedat Akar and Deniz Olcay of Mathilda in Istanbul; and Vaggelis Penikis and Achilleas Thanasoudas of Purovoku Project in Thessaloniki.
Milan’s Cocktail Community Comes Together
On Monday, September 21, the spotlight shifts to Milan, with a lineup reflecting the breadth of the city’s contemporary cocktail scene.
Participating bars include Bob; Carlton, represented by Luca Ardito; 1930, with Fabio “Benjamin” Cavagna; Camparino, with Tommaso Cecca; Casa Tobago, with Alberto Corvi; Ceresio 7, with Abi El Attaoui; Moebius, with Andrea Gilardo; Milord, with Cristian Lodi; Rita’s Cocktail, with Edoardo Nono; Sogni, with Matteo Paulillo; The Doping Club, with Nicola Romiti; BYit, with Dario Schiavoni; Niks & Co., with Leo Sculli; and Ronin, with Riccardo Speranza.
The gathering brings together a substantial cross-section of Milan’s bar industry, highlighting a community whose strength lies as much in its connections as in its individual venues.
Food will have an equally prominent place in the celebrations, reflecting DryMilano’s longstanding interest in the relationship between the kitchen and the bar. The culinary lineup brings together chefs, bakers, pastry chefs, gelato makers and pizzaioli, including Matteo Trapasso of TraMa, Matteo Corridori of Roteo, Paolo De Simone of Modus, Roberto Godi of Sea Signora, Moris La Greca of Terrazza PanEvo, Vincenzo Lebano of Terrazza Gallia, Cesare Murzilli of Portrait, Guido Paternollo of Pellico 3, Pasquale Nastri of Porco Brado, Alberto Tasinato of L’Alchimia, Antonio Basile of Pariani Ferno 1953 and Stefano Guizzetti of Ciacco.
Celebrating a Community
“As has become our tradition, our anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate our community, offer our guests an evening out of the ordinary and reaffirm our commitment and passion for making people feel good,” said Lorenzo Sirabella. Reservations are strongly recommended for September 20, while the September 21 celebration will be by invitation only.
Photos courtesy of DryMilano
