Reacting to a classic italian cocktail…
The Negroni, in cocktail terms, is ancient. It is one of the pillars of the cocktail world, along with the Manhattan and the old fashioned…
A staple on the menus of most cocktail bars, the Negroni works well on several levels, from the floral Gin to the sweet vermouth and the bitter Campari, this drink blends all of the individual elements together into a tasty little glass.
Recipe:
1 measure Campari
1 measure Sweet Vermouth
1 measure Gin
Orange Zest
Method:
– Build the ingredients in a rocks glass filled with ice.
– Garnish with a twist of Orange zest and stir well.
Fervent Shaker Top Tip: to make this drink drier, try using a splash more of gin, or even substituting the sweet vermouth for dry/extra dry vermouth.
This cocktail is a classic and you should all know how to make one for your friends, especially if you’re having a cocktail party anytime soon. This is a drink is one of the rare drinks that I think are better left short and sweet. Given my preference to longer drinks I did find it a little strange to begin with, but the strength this drink provides is matched by the flavour combination.
The Negroni can be dated back to around 1910 (if you believe the stories) and was apparently used to strengthen another cocktail; the Americano. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous then why not join the trend of using the Negroni as a base, and use these rules:
Base Spirit (your preference) + Bitters + Vermouth (your preference) = Your Negroni.
Various versions of these Negronis can be found HERE. Otherwise check out these 3 rather different versions…
Tequila Negroni
Recipe:
1 measure Reposado Tequila
1 measure Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth
1 measure Aperol
Method:
– Stir over ice for 20 seconds.
– Pour over ice in a rocks glass and enjoy.
– Use a Lime twist should you want a fruity kick.
The use of Aperol means this drink is a little less bitter than when using Campari, but it works well and the tequila adds a real earthy taste to this version.
Fervent Shaker Top Tip: As always, you should only use 100% Agave Tequila, and my preferred brand at the moment is Aqua Riva, but any 100% Agave Reposado Tequila will suffice.
Negroni Sbagliato (Wrong Negroni)
Recipe:
1 measure Campari
1 measure Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth
1 measure Spumante/Prosecco (Sparkling wine)
Method:
– Build over ice and stir the first 2 ingredients.
– Pour in the sparkling wine and then garnish with an orange twist (expel the oils over the drink before dropping it in).
This version of the Negroni keeps to its traditional Italian theme, using a Prosecco or Spumante sparkling wine. This way the tradition is still there, only this drink is a little lighter, allowing for a more refreshing longer drink-feel.
Cucumber Negroni
Recipe:
1 measure Cucumber infused Vodka
1 measure Campari
1 measure Sweet Vermouth
Method:
– Stir all the ingredients over ice and pour over ice into a rocks glass.
– Drop in an expelled lemon zest twist and serve with a straw.
This version simply swaps the cucumber Vodka in for the gin. The cucumber flavour adds a little flavour where the removal of the gin would leave a hole and supplies a nice crisp taste to the bitter and sweet of the Campari & Vermouth.
Links:
The Fervent Shaker 