Maybe you’ve been distracted by the upcoming Tony Awards, or Father’s Day, but did you know that it’s Negroni Week (June 6th-12th)? We’re delighted when we get to spend just a day celebrating our favorite libations (World Whisky Day was on May 20th), but now we have all of seven days to do so!
The Negroni, of course, is one of the most sophisticated drinks on the planet. Since the 1960s it’s been a mainstay of jet-setting Euros on the French and Italian Rivieras and it was the in-house favorite of Andy Warhol’s Factory crowd.
Although there is controversy surrounding its “invention”–some say the Negroni came into existence in Florence at the Caffe Cassoni (now Roberto Cavalli’s Caffe Giacosa) in the early 1900s when an Italian Count Camillo Negroni, wanting to spice up his Americano (a drink involving Campari and vermouth), asked the barteder to add gin. Others claim that another count, General Pascal Olivier de Negroni, created the cocktail long before in the mid-19th century.
In any event, we know the drink had a posh and intriguing past and we know we love Negronis. We also love the fact that so many top New York restaurants are creating their own special recipes for Negroni Week to benefit a wide range of charities (a portion of the profits from each Negroni purchase will be donated the venue’s designated cause).
So to toast all things Negroni, here are five new ways to enjoy this always stylish (and powerful) drink.
Negroni Chiaro from Marea
1.5 oz Bombay London Dry Gin
.75 oz Cocchi Americano
.5 oz Dolin Blanc Vermouth
1-2 dashes Mum Bitters (Housemade)
(Benefitting Wheeling Forward)
Le Morgoni from VANDAL
1 oz. Botanist Gin
1 oz Lillet
1 oz. Campari
Top with Prosecco
(Benefitting Genesis Womens Shelter)
Golden Negroni from Ristorante Morini
1 oz. Tanqueray Gin
1 oz. Cocchi Americano Aromatized Wine
1 oz. Suze Gentian Liqueur
(Benefitting Wheeling Forward)
Barolo Barrel Aged Negroni from American Cut Midtown
1 oz. Plymouth Gin
1 oz. Campari
1 oz. Carpano Antica
(Benefitting the Global Poverty Project)
Negroni Invecchiato from Scarpetta
1 oz. Plymouth Gin
1 oz. Tangerine-infused Campari
1 oz. Carpano Antica
Cocktail is barrel-aged for 30 days
(Benefitting the Global Poverty Project)
