IT'S NEGRONI WEEK!
A bitter drink made with only 3 ingredients how hard can it be to make the perfect Negroni? If you google Negroni, you will be hit with a wealth of knowledge, recipes and noble dissent.
Let’s have a look at the brief history of the Negroni.
Invented in 1919 by Count Camillo Negroni in Florence. The Negroni is a variation on another classic cocktail the Americano. A mixture of Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water, served with a lemon slice. It was over a 100 years ago that Count Negroni asked his bartender at the Cassoni Cafe on the Via de’ Tornabuoni to stiffen his Americano by replacing the soda with gin. History records show that the bartender Fosco Scarselli, also replaced the lemon with an orange slice.
When is the best time to drink a Negroni?
As the Italians do, The Italian tradition occurs every day at sunset. When restaurants and bars set out small snacks, called 'cicchetti', to accompany palate enhancing drinks. The word itself derives from the Italian verb 'aprire', to open. In Italian culture 'aperitivo' is an opportunity to open your appetite, to ready yourself for some amazing food. The Negroni is a very simple classic cocktail features just three ingredients gin, sweet vermouth and Campari. Some people say its an acquired taste. That’s because of the very bitter notes from the Campari. You will also fine some wine, citrus and herbal notes from the Vermouth.
With the UK producing some fantastic gin why not try making a Negroni from 100% UK made ingredients. The London Vermouth Company make some interesting vermouths. Swap out the Campari for Sacred’s Rosehip Cup made with rosehip & rhubarb for a natural bitter drink.
So what makes the perfect Negroni?
Ingredients
1-part Sipsmith London Dry Gin
1-part Sweet Vermouth
1-part Campari
Orange twist to garnish
Method
Fill a mixing glass with ice
Add all the ingredients to the mixing glass and stir 20-25 times until the mixing glass fills cold in your hand
Strain into an ice-filled Rocks glass
Garnish with an orange twist
Relax and enjoy!