BarTales

What BarTales does

BarTales is an Italian trade media company, founded in 2013, that publishes the first free Italian magazine exclusively dedicated to bartending and mixology. The publication is operated through Events Planner Italy SrL and serves two primary audiences: professional bartenders and mixology professionals seeking industry news, competition coverage, and professional development resources, and spirits brands seeking a channel to reach those professionals and consumers. The magazine is published seasonally in six languages — Italian, English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and a Collection edition — and is distributed through a free digital flipbook platform, an annual print subscription (€40/year plus €6 shipping for quarterly 128-page collectible volumes), and social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The company's technology stack is modest and centered on a digital publishing platform with a flipbook reader, multi-language content management, and a content archive that receives approximately 30,000 monthly downloads and 200,000 monthly visits to back issues. Editorial coverage includes news, cocktail recipes, bar events, and on-site coverage of cocktail competitions such as the Elephant Gin National Competition, the Colada Cup, and the Coppa Casoni. The team is small — approximately 5 people — including co-founder and editor Melania Guida, and the company is bootstrapped with no external funding.

BarTales generates revenue through two primary streams: advertising and sponsorships from major spirits brands and industry associations, and recurring revenue from print subscriptions. Its go-to-market is event-driven, using industry competitions and brand partnerships as both editorial content and audience-building mechanisms. The publication positions itself as a professional training tool — described as a unique case in trade publishing — connecting spirits brands with bartending professionals and consumers while elevating the image of Italian bartending.

Name

BarTales

Legal name

Events Planner Italy SrL

Website

https://bartales.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BarTales is an Italian trade media company founded in 2013 that publishes the first free Italian bartending magazine in six languages. It serves professional bartenders, spirits brands, and cocktail enthusiasts through digital flipbooks, print subscriptions, and event coverage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bartending Trade Media

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Food, Cooking & Beverage Magazines (MPAJAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cookbooks, Food & Drink Publishing (MPAJAAAG)

Keywords

• Bartending trade media
• Mixology magazine publishing
• Spirits industry news
• Cocktail culture content
• Bartender training resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Sponsorships: Major market players and professional associations advertise in the magazine. The publication serves as a bridge between spirits/brands and industry professionals/consumers.
2. Print Subscription: Annual print subscription model: 40.00 euros + 6.00 euros shipping for 4 quarterly issues, each containing 3 seasonal numbers. Print version is a collectible volume with laminated cover, 128 pages, perfect bound.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BarTales publishes a free multi-language bartending and mixology magazine available in six languages (Italian, English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and a Collection edition). The magazine is distributed through a digital flipbook platform and a paid annual print subscription (€40/year + €6 shipping) delivering four quarterly collectible volumes of 128 pages each. The publication covers industry news, cocktail recipes, bartender competitions, and spirits trends, and is recognized as a professional training resource within the Italian bartending community.

Product overview

BarTales is a multi-language magazine publishing platform dedicated exclusively to bartending and mixology. The core offering consists of seasonal magazine editions available in six languages (Italian, English, Spanish, Chinese, French, and a collection edition), delivered through both digital flipbook and print subscription formats. The digital platform hosts approximately 30,000 monthly magazine downloads plus 200,000 monthly visits to archived content. Supporting content includes a news and events portal, cocktail recipe archive, and video hub covering competitions and industry coverage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BarTales Magazine (Italian edition) The flagship Italian-language seasonal publication covering bartending, mixology news, cocktail recipes, bartender competitions, and industry events. Distributed via a free digital flipbook platform with a paid annual print subscription option.
• Best of BarTales (English edition) English-language edition of the BarTales magazine featuring translated and internationally relevant bartending and mixology content for global English-speaking readers.
• Lo Mejor de BarTales (Spanish edition) Spanish-language edition of the BarTales magazine delivering bartending and mixology content to Spanish-speaking bartending professionals and enthusiasts.
• BarTales China (调酒世界) Chinese-language edition of the BarTales magazine (调酒世界) covering Asian bartending culture and international mixology trends for Chinese-speaking readers.
• BarTales France (Français) French-language edition of the BarTales magazine providing bartending and mixology content to French-speaking bartending professionals and cocktail enthusiasts.
• BarTales Print Subscription Annual print subscription delivering four quarterly collectible volumes (128 pages each, laminated cover, perfect bound) to subscribers at €40/year plus €6 shipping, paid via bank transfer to Events Planner Italy SrL.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000 monthly digital downloads
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Cinquanta – Spirito Italiano, Bar Volare, JefferminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 August 2026BarTales covered the debut of three Italian bars (Cinquanta – Spirito Italiano di Pagani, Bar Volare di Bologna, Jeffer di Pisa) in 50 Best Discovery, the international guide for restaurants, bars, hotels and vineyards.
• Ferrari TrentominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 July 2026BarTales covered the opening of Ferrari Spazio Bollicine at Rome Fiumicino Airport. Ferrari Trento partnered with Areas MyChef for this gourmet airport dining experience featuring Trentodoc sparkling wines.
• Elephant GinminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 February 2023BarTales covered the Elephant Gin National Competition 2023, a bartending competition for professional bartenders. The competition expanded to 6 stages across Italy with 6 finalists competing for a national title in Milan. BarTales served as a media partner for the event coverage.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Spirits Business: Online and print trade magazine covering the global spirits industry. Comparable in combining editorial content with brand advertising and audience reach into bartenders and buyers.
• Difford's Guide: Industry-standard cocktail recipe and bartender reference platform. Directly comparable to BarTales as a multi-format bartending/mixology content publisher serving both professionals and enthusiasts.
• Drinks International: Global trade publication for the spirits and bar industry. Comparable as an advertising-supported B2B media outlet serving spirits brands and bartending professionals.
• Imbibe Magazine: US-based trade and consumer magazine covering cocktails, spirits, and bar culture. Comparable business model combining editorial content, events, and a mixology professional audience.
• Punch (PunchDrink.com): Digital-first publication covering cocktails, wine, and spirits culture. Comparable as a content-led media brand targeting cocktail enthusiasts and industry professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Beverage Media Group: Multi-title beverage trade publisher (Beverage Media, Cheers, etc.) serving on-premise operators. Comparable trade-publishing business model but covering the full beverage alcohol industry rather than bartending specifically.
• Wine Enthusiast Media: Large multi-channel beverage media brand covering wine, spirits, and cocktails globally. Comparable in combining print, digital, events, and reviews but operating at significantly broader scope and scale.

Regional players

• Bar Magazine (UK): UK-focused bar trade magazine covering bartending and on-premise trends. Comparable as a regional trade title serving bartending professionals, with similar editorial-advertising mix but different geographic focus.
• MIXOLOGY.eu: European/German trade and consumer cocktail magazine and event platform. Comparable as a European bartending trade publication with similar print + digital + events model, primarily serving the DACH region.

Emerging players

• Cocktail Society: Online cocktail recipe and bar culture publication. Comparable as a digital-first competitor targeting cocktail enthusiasts and home bartenders, overlapping with BarTales' consumer segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bartalestrainingcenter1597
• Facebookfacebook.com/bartalesitaly
• Instagraminstagram.com/bartalesmagazine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bartales

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BarTales