The Negroni: Summer The Italian Way

For all of those who pay attention to such things, it is officially summer. This means balmy days, trips to the beach and sunset slowly but surely getting a little earlier every day.  It also means even more drinking, especially if you’re among the lucky group of people who doesn’t have to work over the season. While many people favor an ice cold brewdog or a chilled glass of white\rosè, there is also a large group of drinkers who prefer a perfectly poured (alliteration!) cocktail on a hot summer night.  If you’ve been following this column for any length of time, you have surmised I fall into the latter group.  You’ve probably also noticed I’ve been trying to throw some summer drinking at you lately, and this is no exception.  The Negroni is a quintessential summer cocktail, as Jeff so eloquently stated “a summer cocktail with hair on it’s chest”. I’m not entirely sure if this is to say that it’s a cocktail for a more “manly” demeanor, or if he’s just mocking Italians, but one way or the other, he is in fact correct.

The Negroni is a rare event: a sequel that is greater than the original.  The Negroni was derived from the Americano in the early 1900s in Florence, Italy. As the story is told, Count Camillo Negroni, a member of the Florentine aristocracy, was a fan of the Americano, but needed something with a little more kick.  His wise bartender tossed out the one non-alcoholic ingredient of the Americano and added gin. In that moment, the Count had a new favorite cocktail, and a modern classic was born.  The Negroni, obviously named for the Count,  has endured from that moment on, and it can live on in your home with very little effort. Here’s what you’ll need:

1 oz. Campari
1 oz. gin
1 oz. sweet vermouth

Traditionally, this cocktail is shaken with ice, poured into an ice filled old fashioned glass and garnished with an orange twist. The more modern and American style has it poured into a chilled cocktail glass, but retains the orange garnish.  Either way, this is the sort of drink you can while away any number of warm afternoons with.  I myself am going to acquire a hammock and see if Lupec wants to spend some quality time relaxing in the sun and sipping this icy classic.

-Out.

Tags: campari, drink recipes, gin, vermouth
Category: Cocktail Recipes | Comments (0)