Giacomo Giannotti (Paradiso): "Our industry’s ingredient supply network is based on an old system that doesn’t really support bars that want to change"

Jigger Daily: What inspired you to start the Paradiso Sustainability Summit?

Giacomo Giannotti: The inspiration for the Sustainability Summit was to create an event, initially a small one at Paradiso, where we could bring together influential and top professionals from our industry here in Barcelona. The idea was to host masterclasses, guest bartending, and share best practices behind the bar, as well as showcase the projects these industry leaders were working on to inspire new generations and the industry as a whole.

What are your long-term visions for the summit?

I would love for the Paradiso Summit to become a leading international event in Barcelona and Spain. For example, in Barcelona, when it comes to cocktails and spirits, we don’t really have much, only a few isolated events. I’d like to contribute and give back to the local bar and bartender community, which has always treated me incredibly well. My vision is to create an international event where we can share, grow, network, and help elevate the entire industry.

How do you plan to expand or evolve the summit in the coming years?

After the huge success this year and the amazing feedback from all over the world - bartenders, brands, friends, and the industry - people are already asking me about next year. I believe it’s going to be even bigger, with more bars, more brands, and maybe even turning it into a two-day event. The idea is to grow it, and we can already feel there’s a lot of attention and a very positive response from the industry, the general public, and the brands. As I mentioned before, Barcelona was missing an event like this, held in a beautiful green space like Palo Alto. So I truly believe next year will be bigger, with more masterclasses, more workshops, more guest bars, and overall, a larger event that can welcome more people and keep growing every year.

How do you see the summit influencing the global bar community?

I believe that this year, with the great execution of the Summit, we managed to reach a lot of people. We also had a strong media presence that helped spread the message around the world. The masterclasses and the entire educational program were carefully curated, focusing on topics that are rarely discussed during typical Bar Shows. We covered everything from gender representation to waste, ‘from the bar to the farm’, and even explored subjects like ice and glassware in cocktails.

We had truly world-class panellists - friends and industry pioneers - who accepted my invitation to be part of the Summit and added incredible value. The event’s outreach was massive, and I believe the Summit’s message reached every corner of the world, genuinely impacting people. And if we managed to inspire even just one person to start applying better practices, whether at home or in their own bar, then we’ve already achieved something great.

What changes have you noticed in the industry since its inception?

Since we started, the changes in the global industry are hard to see in the short term, I believe they’ll be more visible in the long run. But I do think we’re building something important: a network, a community. Our community truly values sustainability - environmental sustainability, human sustainability, and taking care of each other.

What’s beautiful is that all the brands that share these values are coming closer. We’re getting to know each other better, building real connections. And this community is growing stronger every year. I think that’s something really special. In the end, it’s becoming more than just a Paradiso event, it’s becoming a community, a global movement, and that’s exactly what we’re aiming for and fighting to build.

What motivates you personally to advocate for sustainability?

What motivates me about sustainability is that it’s a value I’ve had since I was a child, something my parents passed on to me through their work, especially through the family gelateria. They taught me the importance of respect, for others and for ingredients.

Now that I own bars and have the power to make decisions, I try to pass those values on to my team and reflect them in every choice I make for the business. As I mentioned before, the Summit started as a small event to bring together other bartenders who share these same values, to show my team and the Barcelona industry different ways of understanding sustainability from around the world. And now, the event is starting to grow, and we’re really happy about that.

What are some challenges you face in promoting sustainability within the bar industry?

The challenge of promoting sustainability… Well, I see the real challenge in applying sustainability within the bar industry. Our industry’s ingredient supply network is based on an old system that doesn’t really support bars that want to change. For example, getting large quantities of alcohol delivered in reusable containers is complicated. The ecoSPIRITS model is a great example, but here in Spain, it’s still at a very early stage.

So, from a logistical and structural point of view, the bar industry doesn’t make it easy.

But when it comes to promoting sustainability, I haven’t really found it to be a challenge. On the contrary, I’m finding more and more people who want to contribute, who want to be part of this movement.

So yes, applying sustainability can be tough at times, but within the bar industry, I honestly feel a lot of support.

A success story from this year’s Summit? There are so many little ones! But definitely one of the highlights was selling out four days before the event. Honestly, we were worried that not many people would show up, and in the end, we had to increase security because we sold out on Thursday and the event was on Sunday.

Another great moment was that all the pop-up bars ran out of their pre-batched cocktails just two hours after the event started - we had to prepare everything all over again! It was incredible. But most of all, I have to thank all the bartender friends who came from around the world, and of course, the amazing Paradiso team, who made a huge effort. Without the teamwork, we could have never made it such a success.

Our conversation with Giacomo Giannotti has been nothing short of enlightening. His passion for sustainability and his dedication to the bar industry shine through in every initiative he undertakes. Giacomo's achievements are a testament to his vision and hard work.

As he continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of cocktails and sustainability, Giannotti remains a beacon of inspiration for bartenders and industry professionals worldwide. His commitment to creating a more sustainable and connected community is not only admirable but also essential in today's world. We look forward to seeing how the Paradiso Sustainability Summit evolves and the positive impact it will continue to have on the global bar community.

Thank you, Giacomo, for sharing your insights and for your unwavering dedication to making a difference.