The winning team was made up of Daniele dalla Pola, Alexander Frezza and Luca Sai.

Their final drink ‘Elisir d’Amore’ was described by judge Jacob Briars as ‘incredibly well-balanced and totally surprising.’

Italy took home the title and the trophy by less than half a percentage point, with the US in second place and Scotland in third.

Judge Salvatore ‘Maestro’ Calabrese said the team “perfectly illustrated the ‘brotherhood of bartending’.”

The week long competition took place in and around Queenstown in New Zealand and seven teams from London, Europe, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Italy presented their ‘signature’ drink to four judges including 42 Below global vodka professor Jacob Briars, Australian Bartender of the Year Jason Williams, cocktail author and historian David Wondrich and Salvatore Calabrese.

The grand final was held under a big top marquee at the Lake Hayes Showgrounds, just outside Queenstown.

Elisir D'Amore

45 ml pineapple and black pepper-infused 42 Below

5 ml lavender-infused 42 Below

20 ml limoncello

15 ml orange, lemon and ginger syrup

5 ml Chambord

50 ml fresh pineapple juice

2 dashes Fernet Branca

Shake with ice. Strain into a bottle, serves two.