This week is the third annual Negroni Week. Actually, it’s day 4 of 7 (June 1 – 7), but who’s keeping track? On the surface, this is seemingly yet another holiday with the sole goal of increasing sales, but there are good intentions behind this week of enjoying the classic Negroni.
In 2013 Imbibe Magazine and Campari teamed up to create a charity event that restaurants and bars could opt into. Imbibe and Campari declared the “holiday”, but leave the choice of charity up to the participating venue. This is a great opportunity for local communities to raise money that will impact them directly. In 2014 over 1,300 bars donated a total of over $120,000 to charities. This year, there are only a handful of Tulsa venues participating, but I would love to see this number increase and the community band together because Imbibe and Campari make contributions for this event too. Imbibe donates $1,000 to the charity of choice of a randomly selected participating venue, and Campari donates $10,000 to the charity chosen by the venue that raises the most money
Fellow Tulsans, below is a list of the participating establishments that I am aware of. I will append this list as needed. If you are not a Tulsa resident, I encourage you to find out what local establishments are participating and order a Negroni. “Worst” case scenario, follow the recipe below, make your own Negroni, then donate directly to the charity of your choice as an individual. We all know cocktails and monetary donations are a great combination.
Participating Tulsa Venues and Their Choice Charity
Smoke on Cherry Street (donating 100% of sales!) – The Little Lighthouse
Also, be sure to check out the great promotional video that Retrospec Films created for The Little Lighthouse.
Valkyrie (donating $1 of every drink sale) – Emerson Elementary School
Hodges Bend – unknown
Vintage 1740 – unknown
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UPDATE (9/22/2015)
The results of Negroni Week 2015 are in, and the amount raised this year was nearly tripled! $321,00 was raised by over 3,500 venues representing 44 countries. New York oyster bar, Grand Banks, raised the most money and therefore Campari contributed an additional $10,000 to their choice charity, The Maritime Foundation. The Maritime Foundation preserves maritime history, artifacts, and vessels, and educates the public on maritime culture and ecology. Imbibe Magazine chose one participant’s charity at random to donate to, and this year it was The Giving Kitchen, represented in Negroni Week by The Iberian Pig. The Giving Kitchen provides emergency assistance grants to restaurants in the Atlanta area facing unanticipated times of need. Negroni Week 2016 is set for June 6-12, so mark your calendars! I’m sure next year’s event will once again have more participants and raise more money than any year prior.
Negroni
Ingredients
- 1 ounce gin
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Express and garnish with an orange twist.
