The Negroni. In the last few years this cocktail has been cropping up everywhere. But what is it? And more importantly how do we make one?
The History
Like all good cocktails, the origins are spurious. Before we had the Negroni we had the Milano-Torino, later to be remade into the Americano. This has been knocking around since at least the 1860’s. Campari (from Milan) and Sweet Vermouth (from Turin) in equal measures, and in the Americano, a dash of soda water.
Legend has it that in 1919 the mysterious Count Camillo Negroni ordered one of these, but asked to the bartender to punch it up a bit. Barman substitutes gin for soda water. There we have it. Or do we?
When looking it into this its hard to corroborate these facts, and interestingly the modern day Count Negroni has rather a different take on it. He says that no one in is family has ever been called Camillo. Controversially he claimed that the Negroni cocktail was not invented in Florence, but rather in Saint-Louis, Senegal.
You can make up your own mind which to believe. Although I’m personally routing for the Senegalese version. Italy has enough cocktail origins of its own, and on top of that Saint-Louis is one of my favourite West African cities.
How to make a CLASSIC Negroni
First let’s go with the classic. It’s not how I make mine, but its often best to go for the original before you start messing around with it.
In a mixing glass combine:
- 25ml Sweet Vermouth
- 25ml Gin
- 25ml Campari
- Ice
Give it a quick stir, then pour into a tumbler with ice. Preferably with one of those giant cubes. Garnish with an orange twist.
Done. Delicious. A Classic. Maybe a touch too bitter for some.
My perfect Negroni
Whilst I do enjoy a Negroni I find the Campari can overtake the gin and the vermouth, and it isn’t as balanced as I would like. If you find the Classic Negroni a bit too bitter, or you want to enjoy the other tastes then give this version a go.
In a mixing glass combine:
- 35ml Still Wild Sweet Vermouth
- 35ml Gin
- 15ml Campari
- Ice
Garnish and serve the same way as the classic. Enjoy.