I love the full-on sensorial experience of a Negroni cocktail: Its gorgeous flame-coloured hue, its aromatic citrus and gin-imparted notes, its perfect taste that is a harmony of bitter and sweet and bracing.
Its origin story involving a namesake Count Camillo Negroni from 1919 Florence simply adds to the appeal.
To me, it’s a perfect drink to be enjoyed all year round.
Here, my go-to cocktail recipe for the classic cocktail to serve as your aperitivo. And for the more moderately minded, a zero-alc version that is, admittedly, a cross between a Negroni and a G&T, but the hybrid is lovely and very satisfying for Negroni lovers!
The Negroni
Ingredients
1 oz Campari
1 oz gin
1 oz sweet vermouth
orange wheel and brandied cocktail cherry (my choice is Luxardo)
Method
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake until frosty and pour into a glass with one large ice chunk or a handful of cubes. Garnish with an orange slice or wheel and a brandied cherry.
Serves 1.
The Zero-Alcohol Negroni
Ingredients
2 oz Martini Non-Alcoholic Vibrante*
2 oz quality tonic water
sprig of thyme or orange wheel and brandied cocktail cherry (my choice is Luxardo)
Method
Pour Martini Vibrante into a glass that has one large ice chunk or a handful of cubes. Top with tonic. Garnish with sprig of thyme or an orange wheel and brandied cherry.
Serves 1.
*In Ontario, you can find Martini Vibrante at select LCBO locations, and at SAQ in Quebec. Also found at select Sobeys, Safeway and IGA stores in Canada. Priced between $13.95-$16.99 across the country.
IMAGE AT TOP: Photo of the beautiful little book, The Negroni: A Love Affair With A Classic Cocktail, by Matt Hranek, which is jam-packed with Negroni recipes and riffs on the original – plus lots of nerdy wonderful details about the history of the cocktail itself.
