Q&A: Giorgio Bargiani

Hospitality runs in Giorgio Bargiani’s blood. Coming from Pisa, Italy, where he got his start at his family’s restaurant, Bargiani joined the lauded Connaught Bar in London in 2014. Today, he serves as the Assistant Director of Mixology, with his creativity and influence extending to the global bar scene, evidenced by his award for International Bartender of the Year in 2023 at the Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards. The most recent manifestation of his passion for the profession is his own glassware line, Bar/Giani, created in collaboration with global design brand NUDE. We connected with Bargiani to talk about the collection, his approach to hospitality, and the undeniable impact of a beautiful cocktail glass.

Imbibe: Your reputation behind the bar precedes you. Can you tell us how you approach mixology, and what hospitality means to you?

Giorgio Bargiani: I believe mixology relates mainly to the creative aspect of our profession that—as a bartender—keeps me excited and motivated daily to research and discover new flavors, techniques, and vessels to always deliver something new for our guests. But hospitality, to me, means giving time to people—personalizing each and every interaction in order to leave special and positive memories to each and every person that takes the time to visit us.

How did the opportunity for the collaboration with NUDE come about? Had you ever thought about designing your own glassware line?

We got in touch with NUDE almost two years ago. And since the first meeting we discovered alignment and shared vision to create an elegant yet versatile glassware range to engage with the bartender community. I had dreamt to have my own glassware collection, though sometimes I thought actually having one would never ever happened. But today I consider this a huge milestone in my career, especially with a partner like NUDE.

Why did you choose these four specific glassware types (plus mixing glass) for this line? What was your inspiration for the style?  

I chose to design something that would stand out, that will elevate each and every creation regardless of environment. Martini glasses and mixing glasses are a huge part of what I do, so those were a must. Old Fashioned and highball glasses, nowadays, are all very similar in capacity and shape, so mine with the stem and soft curves will be different from what is often used these days. The spritz glass embraces one of the biggest trends globally, and which usually uses more of a wine glass. We live in an era of cocktail minimalism, so the “all stemware” style of this collection already adds that extra element to each cocktail.

How do you think a beautiful glass impacts the overall cocktail experience?

With food, we get excited with our eyes before eating something, and the same applies to cocktails—a beautiful glass invites us to drink. The act of lifting and handling the glass could be either meditative or make us feel like part of an occasion. The term “cocktail dress” for example basically defines a lifestyle event.  

If you could only have one cocktail for the rest of your life, which one would it be and why?

The Piña Colada, because life must be fun! And eventually I’ll be enjoying it in a tropical place.

Left to right: Bar/Giani glassware; short Bar/Giani cocktail glass

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