Since the beginning of his career, Massimo La Rocca (born in Sperlonga - Italy) has been an example in the workplace for reliability and professionalism, which he wanted to improve and refine in order to expand its professional culture. So, with so much good will and determination, decided to travel to London (Claridge's Hotel, Harrods' Georgian Restaurant) and then to Australia (Così Restaurant in Melbourne) to test new working techniques and deepen his knowledge of the English language, discovering a great passion for the "art of mixing drinks". Once back to Italy, after other important work experiences, he attended a professional AIBES course (Italian Bartenders' Guild) and a Flair Bartending Course with Planet One, getting excellent results. He has been Bartending at the LAB American Bar and at the Terrazza Marconi SPA Marine where he was making cocktails for increasingly demanding customers who enjoyed a creative and innovative mixology characterized by the use of vegetables, spices, fruit, foams and intriguing liquor infusions, always "keeping an eye" on the contemporary ways of mixing drinks. He was judged as the most creative and entertaining bartender in Ireland and been crowned with the prestigious title of "Ireland's WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year 2010” advancing to the Diageo World Class Global Final in Athens, where he flexed his mixology competing against 24 of the most talented bartenders of the globe (chosen between 9000 people during the course of one year) and not only prevailing over the "Ritual & Theatre",the toughest of the six challenges but being placed 3° in the world in the overall competition. Max has been quoted as an expert mixologist by international newspapers and magazines. After an incredible work experience at: - Stravinskij Bar @ Hotel De Russie (The Leading Hotels of the World) in Rome - Bar Manager at St George Hotel in Rome - Bar Supervisor at Kenmare's Relais & Chateaux "Sheen Falls Lodge" in Ireland - Bar Supervisor at Mandarin Oriental Luxury Hotel in Barcelona he is currently working as Bar Supervisor at Ohla Hotel's Boutique Bar, a brand new 5 Stars Hotel in Barcelona. ACHIEVEMENTS - 3rd Place at the prestigious Diageo World Class Global Final (over 9000 contestants World-wide) 2010 in Athens - 1st Place at the prestigious Diageo World Class (Ireland) 2010 winning the title of "Ireland's WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year"

 - 1st Place at the 42 Below Vodka Competition (Ireland) 2010 - 4th Place at the 42 Below Vodka WORLD CUP Global Final (Irish Team) in New Zealand 2010 - Judge @ Diageo World Class Irish Finals 2011 - Head Bartender of the VIP Lounge at the U2 concert in the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo in Brazil - Diageo World Class Presenter @ Bar Convent Berlin 2010 - Seminar speaker and guest Bartender @ City Space Bar of Swissotel Krasnye Holmy Hotel in Moscow (rated one of the World’s Top Ten Bars in the world) - November 2011 Massimo La Rocca has recently started this BILINGUAL blog dedicated to the Mixology World, with the goal of providing all colleagues and people in the industry who put heart and professionalism into the Bar World, with useful information, recipes, videos, links and very interesting researches as well as updates on seminars, workshops, trainings, Bar Shows and new business trends. The name of the Blog refers to an element that many contemporary bartenders do not pay enough attention to...the sound of ice in the shaker, a little "alarm bell" we have to listen to and that is determinant to the success of a cocktail. The main concept is SHARING researches and knowledge, things that can benefit the growing Worldwide Bartenders Community, everything that focuses on the mission we all have in common..CUSTOMER SATISFACTION and because.....SHARING IS CARING! The blog was born in 2007 in Italian language and only a few months later, I had many contacts from bloggers from around the world asking for an English version of the blog contents. The Blog provides: - Information in English and Italian (I recently added a widget for translation into other languages); - Pleasing graphic and colors to facilitate reading; - Professional and updated content using a simple language, understandable also to people that are not in the business. "…it is wonderful to sit back, relax and listen to the sound of ice"..this is what I always say to my guests, proposing a simple and creative mixology with varieties of fruit, spices and vegetables because.. ..variety is the real spice of life, that gives it all its flavour!

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