Negronis are a classic. They’re timeless and reliable. When I’m at home, I like to make simple drinks that involve minimal fuss and minimal washing up (still praying for a dishwasher). The Negroni provides just that.
A little bit of history
As with all cocktails, there are many stories on where the Negroni came from. This is by far the most popular and my personal favourite. It begins in Caffe Casoni in Florence, Italy, 1919. Count Camilla Negroni asked the bartender (who happened to also be his friend) Forsco Scarselli to strengthen his favourite cocktail. What was his favourite cocktail you ask? The Americano. He wanted to replace the soda with gin.
Being a snazzy bartender, Scarselli changed up the usual lemon garnish for a slice of Orange and before they knew it the drink was a hit! Guests would come into the bar and ask for…a Negroni.
Now, my favourite recipe is an enhancement on the original and comes from the lovely folks at Four Pillars. It uses their Spiced Negroni Gin, which was created specifically for a Negroni, so it cuts through the Campari and vermouth. I’m all about a drink where you can taste all the ingredients you’ve used.
Four Pillars Negroni
INGREDIENTS:
- 30ml Spiced Negroni Gin
- 30ml Campari
- 30ml sweet red vermouth
- Orange segment
METHOD:
- Layer ingredients over ice in a short glass
- Squeeze in orange
- Mix with a tall spoon
