Born and raised in Matera, a picturesque town in Basilicata, Southern Italy, Giuseppe grew up with an appreciation for good food, the importance of artistic expression, and – of course – a love of good libations. This passion grew stronger as he moved to New York in early 2013. His interest in all that is beverage grew as the years passed, and he eventually went completely in that direction, realizing that creating and mixing delightful concoctions could be the vehicle for artistic expression. Giuseppe has run several beverage programs in New York, including at the long-lived Almond Bar and Restaurant in Flatiron, and the innovative Halftone Distillery in Brooklyn, both on-site and the launch of a successful RTD can line up. In doing so he learnt the importance of appreciating and valuing the integrity and craftsmanship needed to create superior spirits and liqueurs (and wine and beer). More recently he attended and completed the prestigious BAR 5-Day program under the guidance of legendary figures such as Dale DeGroff, Doug Frost, David Wondrich, Steven Olsen and more; he also holds a WSET 2 certificate in Wines, and is looking to pursuing higher levels of the program. He is thrilled to join the world-class judges for Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2023.