Giovanni Depergola (“Mr. G”): Redefining Mixology and Education in the MENA Region
In the world of hospitality, bartenders are more than just professionals mixing drinks behind a counter. They are storytellers, creators, and innovators who craft experiences in every glass they serve. Among the most recognized names in this craft is Giovanni Depergola, popularly known as “Mr. G”. A veteran of the industry with more than 20 years of international experience, Giovanni has built a reputation as one of the Middle East and North Africa’s most respected mixology educators and consultants.
From orchestrating beverage operations at global events like the MTV Awards in Lisbon to managing high-profile bar concepts at The Westin Dubai and W Hotel Barcelona, and later co-founding Alembic, his career is a remarkable testament to passion, perseverance, and innovation.
Mr. G’s story is not just about cocktails; it is about elevating bartending into an art form, creating platforms for education, and empowering the next generation of hospitality professionals across the globe.
Early Life and Inspiration
Giovanni’s love for beverages and creativity began early. Growing up in Europe, he was exposed to cultures that celebrated wine, spirits, and culinary artistry as part of everyday life. This environment sparked his fascination with flavors, ingredients, and how beverages could bring people together.
Unlike many who stumbled into hospitality, Giovanni’s path was intentional. He wanted to combine artistry with service, and mixology provided the perfect canvas. Bartending, to him, was not just about pouring drinks but about curating emotions, conversations, and memories.
This mindset would later distinguish him from others, helping him move from behind the bar into training, consultancy, and leadership roles that influenced thousands of professionals.
Career Beginnings: From Europe to Global Events
Giovanni’s career took off in Europe, where he quickly established himself as a go-to professional for high-profile events.
One of his defining early moments came when he managed bar operations at the MTV Awards in Lisbon, a massive event where he led a team of 50 bartenders serving over 4,000 guests. This experience tested his leadership, speed, and precision under immense pressure. The success of this event catapulted his reputation and opened doors to more opportunities.
He also played key roles at:
- Pernod Ricard-hosted parties in France, where he curated luxury beverage experiences.
- International Cocktail Experience in Poland, where he showcased innovative bartending to a global audience.
- Training over 250 bartenders across the UK, Italy, and other European nations, helping raise service standards at a continental level.
Through these experiences, Giovanni learned the power of event-driven hospitality, where moments are fleeting but impressions are lasting. He built a reputation not just as a bartender but as a leader who could manage scale, creativity, and quality simultaneously.
Casino Launches in the UK: 2007 Onwards
In 2007, Giovanni joined London Club International (LCI), a prestigious gaming and entertainment company, where he took charge of beverage training during casino launches across the UK.
This was a turning point. Casinos represented a very different environment—fast-paced, high-pressure, and heavily reliant on premium service. Giovanni trained and mentored F&B staff to handle discerning clientele, ensuring beverages complemented the luxury gaming atmosphere.
His time at LCI taught him the importance of consistency, training systems, and service discipline—skills that would become central to his later role as an educator.
Dubai & The Westin: Building a Landmark
Dubai’s rise as a global hospitality hub attracted Giovanni in the late 2000s. He joined The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi as part of the pre-openings team for Senyar Bar, tasked with establishing beverage operations from scratch.
Here, his creativity and leadership shone brightly. He organized and hosted high-profile events, including:
- World Class UAE Grand Finale (2008)
- Diageo International Bartender Awards
Through these events, Giovanni helped Dubai emerge as a serious player in the global bartending community. He also mentored young bartenders in the region, introducing them to international trends, competition standards, and innovative bar practices.
His work at The Westin laid the foundation for his reputation as a mixology leader in the Middle East, someone who could seamlessly blend European flair with Middle Eastern luxury hospitality.
Global Stints: Barcelona and the Maldives
After his successful tenure in Dubai, Giovanni’s career took him to other international destinations.
At the W Hotel Barcelona, he headed bar concept development for Eclipse Bar, a high-energy rooftop venue known for its style and innovation. He infused the concept with unique cocktails, theatrical presentations, and interactive guest experiences, ensuring the bar became a landmark in the city’s nightlife scene.
In the Maldives, Giovanni collaborated with the Hilton Group, rebranding and launching multiple bar outlets across luxury island resorts. Here, he demonstrated his adaptability—shifting from urban nightlife concepts to tropical, resort-driven hospitality where guest expectations centered on exclusivity and paradise-inspired luxury.
These global stints reinforced his versatility and positioned him as a world-class consultant who could adapt to diverse markets and guest demographics.
Training & Consultancy in the UAE
Returning to Dubai in 2010, Giovanni joined MMI Bar Academy, one of the region’s leading platforms for beverage education. His role here was transformative. He designed bespoke beverage menus, organized cocktail competitions, and offered consultancy for large-scale events including:
- The Formula 1 Concerts in Abu Dhabi
- The Dubai Rugby Sevens
These experiences underscored his ability to work across both luxury hotels and high-energy entertainment events. He proved that mixology was not limited to fine dining but could extend to stadiums, festivals, and international showcases.
Later, he became Head of Training & Education at Tonique Consultancy, where he further refined his skills as a trainer and mentor.
Founding Alembic: A New Era of Beverage Education
In 2016, Giovanni co-founded Alembic, a creative drinks agency that became one of the most respected beverage education and consultancy platforms in the MENA region.
Alembic’s services include:
- Beverage & Cocktail Education Programs: Training staff across hotels and bars.
- Bar Concept Design & Development: Helping hotels create signature bar outlets.
- Staff Mentoring & Leadership Training: Preparing bartenders for competitions and international careers.
Through Alembic, Giovanni has personally trained 1,500+ F&B professionals across leading brands including Atlantis, Jumeirah, Fairmont, Marriott, and Waldorf Astoria The Palm. His students describe him as a mentor who challenges them to innovate, think critically, and embrace bartending as both science and art.
Philosophy of Mixology
For Giovanni, cocktails are not just drinks; they are stories in a glass. His philosophy emphasizes:
- Balance: A cocktail must achieve harmony between flavors, aromas, and presentation.
- Creativity: Ingredients are canvases; bartenders are artists.
- Education: Knowledge empowers bartenders to innovate responsibly.
- Sustainability: Using local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible to reduce environmental impact.
This philosophy has made him not only a top bartender but also a thought leader shaping how the next generation approaches hospitality.
Thought Leadership & Global Presence
Giovanni has expanded his influence beyond bars and hotels.
- He has contributed to product innovations such as reviewing the Beermatic automatic beer dispenser, where he explained its benefits for efficiency and sustainability.
- He is a familiar face in ICCA Dubai’s “Stockpot” series, where he is celebrated as a legend and leader in mixology education.
- He frequently appears in industry interviews, workshops, and global events, ensuring his expertise reaches audiences beyond the bar counter.
Legacy and Impact
Over two decades, Giovanni Depergola has moved from managing massive event bars to becoming a mentor, trainer, and entrepreneur shaping hospitality in MENA. His legacy lies in the professionals he has trained, the concepts he has created, and the standards he has set for beverage service.
By co-founding Alembic, he has ensured that his knowledge is not limited to his own career but flows into future generations of bartenders. Today, his influence can be seen in luxury hotels, beach resorts, high-energy nightlife venues, and educational platforms across the region.
Giovanni “Mr. G” Depergola’s biography is the story of how one man elevated bartending from a profession into a respected art and science. His journey from European events to Middle Eastern luxury hotels, his international stints, and his dedication to training make him one of the most important figures in global mixology today.
For the Middle East and Africa, he is not just a bartender or consultant—he is a teacher, innovator, and custodian of cocktail culture, inspiring thousands of professionals to dream bigger and serve better.
The Journey of Giovanni Depergola (“Mr. G”)
The professional journey of Giovanni Depergola, affectionately known as “Mr. G”, is one of vision, resilience, and a lifelong passion for elevating mixology. With over two decades of international experience, he has transformed himself from a bartender at European events into one of the MENA region’s most influential educators and consultants in hospitality.
Giovanni’s story began in Europe, where his fascination with beverages, flavors, and culture pushed him toward bartending. Early in his career, he was entrusted with high-profile events, none more significant than the MTV Awards in Lisbon, where he managed a team of 50 bartenders serving more than 4,000 guests. This massive success proved his leadership ability and solidified his reputation across the continent. He went on to spearhead events such as Pernod Ricard parties in France and the International Cocktail Experience in Poland, training over 250 bartenders across the UK, Italy, and beyond.
In 2007, Giovanni joined London Club International (LCI), where he handled beverage training for casino openings in the UK. This exposed him to the world of luxury entertainment and taught him the values of discipline, consistency, and premium guest experiences.
His career took a pivotal turn when he moved to Dubai, joining the pre-opening team at The Westin Mina Seyahi. Here, he launched Senyar Bar and hosted major international events, including the World Class UAE Grand Finale (2008) and the Diageo International Bartender Awards. His presence elevated Dubai’s bar scene, bringing it international recognition and mentoring a new wave of bartenders in the region.
Global stints followed, including bar concept development at W Hotel Barcelona’s Eclipse Bar and rebranding outlets for Hilton resorts in the Maldives. These roles showcased his adaptability, from high-energy urban nightlife to serene, tropical luxury.
In 2010, Giovanni returned to Dubai, joining the MMI Bar Academy and later Tonique Consultancy, where he designed menus, judged competitions, and mentored teams. His true entrepreneurial leap came in 2016, when he co-founded Alembic, a creative drinks agency that has since trained over 1,500 F&B professionals across brands like Atlantis, Jumeirah, Marriott, and Waldorf Astoria.
Through Alembic and his own philosophy—focused on balance, creativity, education, and sustainability—Giovanni has redefined what it means to be a bartender. Today, he stands not only as a mixologist but as a teacher, innovator, and custodian of cocktail culture, inspiring thousands in the Middle East and beyond.