This is the opening act of a stirred-up journey around the globe sipping Cocktails
WORLD OF NEGRONI. An Italian classic, the Negroni is a bittersweet cocktail that has quite rightly become a trendy order in recent years. And made several comebacks in cocktail bars all over the world since it was invented in Italy more than 100 years ago. To make a perfect Negroni, all you need is balance. Use equal parts gin, vermouth and Campari, and choose the best products in your reach.
This is the opening act of my stirred-up journey around the globe sipping cocktails. For me, Negroni is close to the perfect drink. Nice colour, bitter enough to be sophisticated, sweet enough to be approachable. It works as an aperitif, and has enough alcohol to work after a meal, and easily made.
Negroni Cocktail recipe
Negroni ingredients: 25ml Gin – 25ml best sweet vermouth – 25ml Campari – ice.
For the garnish; slice of orange.
Method: Pour the gin, vermouth and Campari into a mixed glass or jug with ice. Stir until the outside of the glass feels cold.
Strain onto a glass and add fresh ice. Garnish with an orange slice, using a blood orange when in season.
The birth of Negroni
The most widely reported version of the Negroni´s origin is that it was invented at Caffe Casoni in Florence. Let´s go back to the year 1919 when Count Camillo Negroni asked his bartender to add some extra kick to his usual drink, the Americano. Forsco Scarselli strengthen the cocktail by replacing the soda water with gin. The bartender mixed one-part each of gin, vermouth rosso, and Campari. Then he garnished with an orange peel—and the Negroni was born. True story or not, Count Negroni´s namesake cocktail has since become vital at bars, cocktail parties, and everything in between.
The new Iskian Negroni
There are endless variants of Negronis around the globe. Even in Negroni´s homeland, it´s some different variations. The latest came from Ischia, the green tourist island located in the bay of Naples, South of Italy.
The Iskian Negroni was created in spring 2020. The recipe is simple, easy to remember and with a local profile. Mix 2 ounces Campari Soda, 2 ounces Schweppes Tonic Water, 1 ounce Biancolella Wine and garnish with lemon slice.
Just a finale advice, In order to make the perfect Negroni, the ingredients should be stirred with plenty of ice to bring the temperature down. Do not shake it.
A Japanese mix
A Japanese-inspired Negroni was launched by Patrick Sara, bar manager of Rockpool Bar & Grill in Perth, Australia. “Rice Rice Baby” featuring Jinzu Gin mixed with Gozenshu Junmai cintage sake and Cocchi Americano, a quinine-laced aperitif wine. Clear in colour with delicate floran and citrus notes, this Japanese Negroni is an easy-drinking cocktail.
Decadent in Prague
Prague offers so much more than alluring architecture, abundant brews and an inherently romantic atmosphere. The city has kept up with European trends in gastronomy and chic cocktail bars. Tretter`s in the Old Town is a cozy yet decadent drinking hole with high standard. One of the winning specials is Gin Negroni, seduces with jasmine and bergamot. A bar to visit. Address: V Kolkovně 3.
Negroni for beginners
Americans are wild about Negroni and the owner of bar Melfi in Charleston, South Carolina created her own. A Negroni for beginners contains London Dry Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and garnished with grapefruit wedge.
“Dr. Melfi’s Medicine was an opportunity to showcase the complexity of a Negroni without the richness of an all-booze drink,” says Melfi’s owner Brooks Reitz. “I felt like it was a Negroni for beginners without altering any of the ingredients, and simply supplementing. This version is bright, fresh, and slightly less dangerous than your classic Negroni.”
The Negroni Week
Few if any cocktails have an exclusive world-celebrating week. In 2019, more than 12,000 bars across the globe participated in Negroni Week raising nearly $800,000 for charity. This year is shifting to the digital space to raise donations in support of the hard-hit hospitality industry. The celebrations took place September 14-20 and it will continue whenever the mood for a Negroni strikes.
You can buy t-shirt, napkins, Negroni glass and even a book dedicated drinking to La Dolce Vita. The Negroni book offers inspiration for the timeless cocktail. While the 60 recipes – from Negroni precursor the Americano to a Negroni Cheesecake – will keep you occupied through the week and beyond. We’ll drink to that.
Drink local – NOT A BAD PLACE TO START
