Classic Negroni
The classic Negroni is a cocktail Curtis and I maybe enjoy weekly. We put a spin on it or just go classic with the three simple ingredients. Ones that should also be staples in your bar collection. It’s an Italian cocktail that was invented about almost a 100 years ago by lore, and is a staple in Italian culture. Since it’s Negroni Week, I wanted to share a little history and the classic recipe for this delicious, bitter cocktail.
Some may say the Negroni is to this decade what the Cosmopolitan was to the 1990s. You know Carrie Bradshaw’s drink choice on Sex and the City. It’s a slightly bitter concoction, made of equal parts Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin, and has become popular worldwide.
The drink goes back to Florence in 1919. According to reliable lore, the cocktail was born when an Italian bartender responded to a customer’s demand for a stiffer riff on an Americano cocktail. The patron, Count Camillo Negroni, had picked up a taste for strong liquor while working as a rodeo clown in the American Wild West, and gave his name to the resulting concoction. Scarselli, the bartender, added an orange garnish, rather than the lemon you’d usually get with an Americano and the rest is history. Before long, everyone was coming into the bar for a ‘Negroni.’
The Negroni family was quick to take advantage of the cocktail’s success too, founding the Negroni Distillery in 1919, in Treviso, Italy, where they produced a ready-made version of the drink, sold as Antico Negroni. The distillery is still open today, under the ownership of a new family. This is actually where my family is from, the Treviso area, so I could say it’s in my blood!
For almost a century, the Negroni remained a quiet classic, readily offered in Italian restaurants or bars and beloved by cocktail enthusiasts. I know that in Italy, it’s a drink you enjoy with friends after work before dinner.
Two years ago the cocktail-industry bible Imbibe launched an event in its honor,and the first Negroni Week included 100 U.S. bars mixing up their best versions of the drink. Now thousands of bars across 50 countries participate. This year, June 6-12 is the celebratory week for this classic cocktail. So make one tonight to celebrate! It’s not too late.
More than anything, though, what really helped popularize the cocktail is its simplicity. This is a drink almost impossible to muddle. The only danger to it, is how easily you can make another one. Trust me on this, we enjoy too many on our patio in the summer or sitting in front of a winter fire.
Don’t forget to check out my Hibiscus Aperol Negroni or my Blood Orange Campari cocktail recipes for more inspiration!
Photos taken by Pulp Photo in Vancouver.
Classic Negroni
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Campari
- 1 oz. gin
- 1 oz. sweet vermouth
- Giant ice cube
Instructions
-
Stir Campari, gin, and vermouth in an ice-filled tumbler.
-
Garnish with orange slice if desired.
Yummie! This looks really delicious! Great pictures 🙂 Thank you for sharing, I am trying the Negroni soon for sure!
xx
The photography on your blog is quite nice!
Yup that a new summer cocktail I want to try out. xx
Yup that a new summer cocktail I want to try out. xx
I’ve never heard of this drink before ! I wish I could drink it from the pictures haha
Interesting! Wish I could make this… if the ingredients are available here in the Philippines.
I don’t really like gin, but your pictures and the way you enthuse about it make me want to try it. Sounds like the perfect drink on a hot day!
Sounds so yummy! Perfect for summer
I will be making this soon!
I have never heard of this cocktail before but all I can say is.. it looks and sounds delicious! Adding that to the drinks recipe book. Thank for sharing
I do love a cocktail recipe 🙂 Thanks for sharing!x
YUM this looks like a delicious cocktail. I think gin is a great drink if its done properly! Ill have to give this a go.
Ah….My fav drink
http://www.thedailyweeklyblog.com
I’ve never even heard of this! I’ll need to give it a shot. Carrie Bradshaw definitely brought back the cosmo. Before that it was a classic that had gone out of style
SO gonna try it! I didn’t know anything about this drink, i mean its yummy but didn’t have idea of anything you are telling us her e !!! LOVE IT!!
Loves from Sun & http://likesocharming.com/
I love me a Campari and soda! Perfect drink for the summer. Happy Monday!
xo,
Suz
http://www.suzannespiegoski.com
If you can believe it, I have never heard of a negroni until about a week ago and now I see posts about them everywhere! I think it’s a sign…
I’ve actually never tried a negroni before, this looks like such a delicious drink! Thanks for the recipe!
xo, alice / T Y P E N U
Ah! This looks amazing! And just in time for the weekend… =D
Classic negroni is absolutely my go to cocktial when I’m in a bar or restaurant. I’ve never made one at home though! Great post 🙂
I’ve actually never heard of this! I’ll be in Italy soon so thank you for sharing. Now I know what to expect! lol
-Courtney from thirty30courtney.com