Old Classic to a New Favourite
Considered one of the infamous classics alongside the Martini and Manhattan, the Negroni has become one of the godfathers of cocktail. By mixing equal parts gin, bitters and sweet vermouth, then stirring over ice with an orange slice garnish, you get a simple, highly sophisticated cocktail. The result is a bitter yet sweet, dry yet refreshing drink, revered by many.
Like the Martini, the origins of the Negroni are open to debate. Collective reports, however, all point to Florence, Italy and the Café Casoni in 1919. One day Count Camillo Negroni wanted a stronger kick to his usual Americano (Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water). His bartender proceeded to exchange the soda water for gin and then to signify that it was a different drink, replaced the lemon with an orange garnish.
In the same year, the Negroni family founded the Negroni Distillery in Treviso, Italy, where they produced the Antico Negroni – a ready-made version of the classic cocktail – further strengthening the origin story. And so the popular Italian aperitif was born!
