This year marks the 4th annual Negroni Week presented by Imbibe and Campari. What I particularly appreciate about this event is that it encourages local establishments to participate and donate to a local charity of their choice. The way it works is an establishment registers for the event stating which Negronis or Negroni variants they will be serving and to what charity the will donate a portion of their proceeds – the minimum donation is $1 per drink. In addition, Campari donates $10,000 to the chosen charity of the establishment that raises the most money. Imbibe chooses a participant randomly and donates $1,000 to their charity. Last year was a record-breaking year with $321,000 raised!
This week I encourage you to go out and enjoy a Negroni at a participating establishment and support a local cause. However, I realize that not everyone is familiar with the Negroni, and there are many who will be newcomers to the classic cocktail. Here are three variant recipes that are sure to please any palate.
Eeyore’s Requiem is a cocktail devised by Toby Maloney of The Violet Hour in Chicago. It’s on the bitter end of the spectrum (hence the name), and it’s a personal favorite. Campari, Cynar, and fernet all combine to create a cocktail with bitter herbal flavors while retaining a balance.
The second cocktail is a variant of the Scorched Earth that I created. Nicholas Hearin of Restaurant Eugene in Atlanta created the Scorched Earth and used brandy as the base. I switched it up by using part mezcal and part tequila for the base, and swapping the Cynar for Ancho Reyes Liqueur. I also used pink House Alchemy’s Smoldered Bitters (my review here) to give it some additional smoke and spice with hints of black currant and vanilla.
The third recipe is for a simple Negroni variant. I split the Campari and added fresh raspberry simple simple, which cuts down on the Campari’s bitterness. This slight variant is true enough to the classic Negroni that it won’t offend enthusiasts, and will also be enjoyed by the casual sipper that may find Campari’s flavors too bold.
Support local charities this week and don’t forget to share on social media with the hashtag #NegroniWeek and #HumbleGarnish if I’ve encouraged you to participate. You can find a list of participating establishments in your area at this link. Cheers to a good week!
– Andrew
Negroni Fan?
Head over to The Humble Garnish Shop to check out my fine art cocktail prints!
Eeyore’s Requiem
Ingredients
- 1½ oz. Campari
- 1 oz. Dolin Blanc Vermouth
- ½ oz. gin
- ¼ oz. Cynar
- ¼ oz. fernet
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist.
Tierra del Fuego
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Campari
- 1 oz. Ancho Reyes Liqueur
- ½ oz. mezcal
- ½ oz. tequila
- 6 dashes pink House Alchemy Smoldered Bitters (See recipe notes for alternative bitters.)
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with an orange peel.
Notes
Raspberry “Negroni”
Ingredients
- 1 oz. gin
- 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth
- ½ oz. Campari
- ½ oz. raspberry syrup
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with an expressed orange peel.
Additional Resources:
Negroni Week
Imbibe Magazine
Campari
Ancho Reyes Liqueur
pink House Alchemy – Smoldered Bitters
The Violet Hour
Restaurant Eugene
Negroni Week – Find a Local Venue
The Humble Garnish Reviews pink House Alchemy’s Smoldered Bitters
