I’ve sampled lots of delicious cocktails, both gin-based and vodka-based, but what is a negroni – I’d never heard of one of those before! I was doing some research on cocktails that can be made from gin and came across the negroni.
The negroni is a cocktail that is a classic pre-dinner drink. It was created in around 1919 in Italy and is part of the family of ‘bitters cocktails”. Bitters have been widely used in Europe for years as an alcoholic, herby medicine and, as we mentioned in our Singapore Sling recipe, Angostura Bitters are a must in your home cocktail bar.
Bitters are an acquired taste, they have been likened to adding salt to your food, to bring out the full flavor of the cocktail that you have created.
What Is A Negroni?
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
- 1 1/2 ounces Campari
- 1 1/2 ounces gin
- Orange slice or twist for garnish
METHOD:
- Pour the ingredients into an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice cubes.
- Stir well.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Training Your Palate
If you are new to the taste experience of bitters cocktails, you may need to train your palate. Experiment with adding half of the Campari measure in your negroni. Once you are used to this amount of Campari, you can work your way back up to a full-strength negroni.
It can take a bit of time for your taste buds to become used to bitters, but it’s well worth it! Once you have acquired the taste, there are many delicious cocktails out there which are well worth treating your taste buds to. You can sample a Manhattan, Old Fashioned or a Sazerac to name but a few!
What sort of gin should you use in a Negroni?
The negroni only has three ingredients, so the quality of gin is an important element. Have our look at our post on best brands of gin to help you make a choice. You will want to go for a good quality of gin, something similar to one that you would use in a martini.
As for the Campari element of Negroni, there are many other cocktails that you can try which have a Campari flavor in them. Have a go with an Americano (this one leaves the gin out and adds club soda), a Boulevardier (swop the gin for rye whisky) or an Old Pal (swop the gin for rye whiskey & swop the sweet vermouth for dry vermouth).
Use the experience of a negroni to open up the opportunities to sample a range of bitters cocktails to Wow your friends with in your Home Bar!
Lewis Gordon
Lewis Gordon is a successful businessman living in Boston, Massachusetts. When he’s not working, he enjoys travelling – especially tasting other cuisines, scuba diving, watching and playing soccer. Lewis also has a love of dogs and is the proud owner of an English Setter.
