Trained between the Jerry Thomas Speakeasy and Campari Academy, Riccardo Marinelli has built a career that blends technical mastery, research, and education. Today, he is a consultant, educator, and one of the key figures in Italy’s bar industry.
Born in Anzio in 1987, Riccardo Marinelli began his bartending journey at just 19 years old. In 2010, during a competition, he met Antonio Parlapiano—an encounter that opened the doors to the Jerry Thomas Project. He went on to attend courses and masterclasses across Italy, deepening his knowledge of mixology. After earning a degree in Tourism Science, he officially joined the team at The Jerry Thomas Speakeasy in 2014, one of the most influential cocktail bars in Italy.
In 2015, he won the Clement Competition, followed by victory in the Appleton Competition in 2016. Around the same time, he began working with Campari Academy alongside Leonardo Leuci, developing seminars for the brand and becoming Appleton Ambassador for Central and Southern Italy. Between 2016 and 2019, he traveled throughout the country aboard the Campari Truck, spreading cocktail culture to a wide audience.
That same year, Marinelli became Bar Manager of the Jerry Thomas Speakeasy. In 2017, he won the Spirits of Scotland Balan Competition and contributed to the creation of Casta, the first Italian grappa designed specifically for mixing, developed with the Castagner Distillery and a team of twelve mixology experts. During his years at Jerry Thomas, he collaborated with some of the world’s most renowned bar figures—including David Wondrich, Jared Brown, Anastasia Miller, Samuele Ambrosi, Luca Cinalli, and Tony Conigliaro—and took part in guest shifts across major European capitals such as London (Joyeux Bordel), Amsterdam (Pulitzer Hotel), Paris (Candelaria Bar), and Milan (Mag Café).
In 2018, he joined the House of Angostura project as Ambassador for both Amaro and Aromatic Bitters. Later that year, he founded his own company, Idea Bar Catering & Consulting, offering bar catering and beverage consulting services. He also began overseeing the beverage program at Les Étoiles Rooftop Bar, part of the Atlante Star Hotel in Rome, where he continues to work as an external consultant.
Since 2020, he has collaborated with Più Cinque Gin, leading national masterclasses and guest nights. In 2021, he joined Accademia Barman in Rome as an instructor and became part of the Roma Bar Show team, contributing to the RBS On Tour project.
In 2022, together with Luca Ranucci, he founded the Ranucci Academy in Nettuno and Anzio, aiming to bring high-level bartending education to the region through collaborations with leading companies and professionals. Between 2022 and 2023, he toured Italy conducting 40 masterclasses in partnership with Rossi d’Angera, Fabio Bacchi, and Bartales.
In 2023 and 2024, Marinelli took on the role of Side Show Manager for the Roma Bar Show while continuing to work with Idea Bar Catering, Ebarman, Bartales, and Les Étoiles. His 2024 schedule was filled with private consulting projects, brand training sessions, and high-profile events—all activities confirmed for 2025. Today, he remains one of the leading voices in Italian mixology, combining creativity, education, and professionalism across every aspect of his work.
