Luca Anastasio was born on the Amalfi Coast in Italy on 16 December 1980.
He studied accountancy at Giovanni Sturzo Technical College in Italy and catering in Switzerland before travelling to London to study English and improve his knowledge of different drinks on various training courses.
Luca Anastasio has been making the best drinks for more than 18 years. He rose from humble beginnings on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, where he made his first cocktails at the age of just 16. He first learned as an apprentice barman in the best hotel bars on the Amalfi Coast.
He is held in high regard as a bartender, having made a name for himself internationally as a mixologist. He is a leading cocktail barman, creating new concepts in tune with the latest trends in mixology.
Luca Anastasio has made cocktails for top brands and celebrities from sportsmen, actors and presidents to the Spanish Royal Family. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the modern drinks industry.
Luca Anastasio’s cocktails are included in the best books on cocktails
When he was 16 years old he combined his studies with working at Grand Hotel Convento in Amalfi. After he finished school, in 1998, he decided to move to Switzerland to study German and catering and then worked at the prestigious Bürgenstock Hotels & Luxury Resorts. Luca Anastasio travelled to London in 2000 to study English and attend several courses on bartending, wines and spirits.
Once he had completed his studies in London he went to Leeds in 2001 to work at the Brasserie in the Weetwood Hall Hotel before travelling to Spain to work in the prestigious Riu Hotels & Resort tourist destinations in Menorca and Lanzarote.
In 2003, he decided to settle down in Madrid where he worked for short time at the bar of the Hard Rock Café before joining the new Glass Bar in Hotel Urban 5*GL, where he demonstrated his skill as a bartender and mixologist. In 2006, he began a new stage as a head bartender and mixologist at the Ferrum Bar Hotel Hilton in Madrid
In 2010, he became part of Javier de Las Muelas’s creative team, carrying out ambitious projects and creating delicious cocktails, and worked as head bartender at the Dry Martini in Madrid and Barcelona.
In 2014, he decided to spend time on his own projects, worked on setting up the bar in Club Matador in Madrid, and took part in several consulting and training projects in Asia for prestigious hotel companies.
One of his most recent projects was consulting work for Platea Bares Madrid, working on bar design and cocktail seasons. He then managed the four bars and created new concepts and designer cocktails.
Recently, Luca Anastasio has taken time away from bartending to focus on consulting work for important projects for hotel chains. He has also coordinated the Mixologyxtrends congress and is working worldwide as a consultant for select brands and on competition juries.
AWARDS
2010
Spanish Champion, Grand Marnier Trophy. He represented Spain in the European final of the Grand Marnier Trophy 2010 in Nice (France).
2009/2010
Three-time winner of World Class Diageo competitions, Spain 2010.
OTHER WORKS
Luca Anastasio has represented the Dry Martini Bar at events and given talks for top brands such as Schweppes, Bombay Sapphire, Mahou-San Miguel, and Nespresso. He has contributed to Javier de las Muelas’s projects, organising and holding masterclasses and workshops. He makes appearances as a guest barman and provides training and consulting all around Spain and abroad.
One of his most notable consulting projects was at the Hotel Four Seasons in Bali, working on the Dry Martini Bar at the Sundara restaurant.
He has made cocktails alongside the best bartenders in the world in Moscow for Martini&Rossi at events for thousands of people. He also worked at the Italian embassy in Moscow, making drinks for the most influential people in Russia.
In 2013, he worked at the Abu Dhabi Gourmet and made non-alcoholic cocktails in various luxury hotels such as The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Hotel Yas Marina Abu Dhabi and Crowne Plaza Hotel Abu Dhabi.
He has given well-received talks and seminars at the Bar Convent Show in Berlin, Madrid Fusión, FiBar in Valladolid, Mix&Shake Madrid, Millesime Madrid, Fitur Madrid, and the Lisbon Bar Show.
He teaches on the Bar Master course at the Chamber of Commerce in Madrid.
He worked with Eurowinegate EWG on the launch of La Quintinye Vermouth and G’Vine Perspectives.
He has worked as an ambassador for top premium spirits brands.