For those who partake in the culture of an aperitif, that first of the day is a special one. Be it your reward for a productive day or your vice…make it count. Make it a Negroni. The color is vibrant and fun, the concoction is a palate cleanser, and it’s a digestive as well – so you can have one after dinner too 🙂
It’s generally accepted that the Negroni came to being as a mod on an Americano in Florence, Italy in 1919. It’s also a wonderful coincidence that I was first introduced to the Negroni in Florence by an Americano – albeit 83 years later.
General Pascale de Negroni – the Count of Negroni – a highly decorated French Military man was at Caffe Casoni in Florence. He was drinking his preferred Americano – bitters, vermouth, soda water – and asked to have it strengthened. The bartender replaced the soda water with gin and garnished it with an orange for a distinct identity. History was made.
Every good drink should have some conflict too. There is a group that stands behind a Camillo de Negroni – but Wikipedia states that the Negroni family looked into it and Camillo was never a Count – and a Count made the Negroni. Good enough fact checking for me.
It’s nice when pouring a Negroni to start with the gin and let the glass pick up color and darken. The Campari’s unique red color gives the aperitif a devilish look, but then the vermouth helps tone down the brightness. The tangy orange slice helps round off the herbal tones in the bitter. And the colder the better…I actually prefer mine shaken with ice so you get a little slurry effect.
The Italians are not known for their stiffer drinks, as they don’t place credence in drinking as a recreation – it doesn’t have enough value to merit being done by itself. Drinking is an activity best paired with food, friends, and family. This is one reason that Italy is famed for Barolo, Chianti and Vin Santo; as well as grappa, the clear second squeezing of the grape that can take the paint off a car.
The Negroni is a bit more nuanced and sophisticated – but functional at the same time. The earliest report of the Negroni to the US was when Orsen Welles was working in Rome. He said, “The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other.”. The Negroni has made a comeback and has quite a following on social media. Check out @negronisocial on Instagram to see some great variations on this simple drink.
In the end, it’s a little bitter and a lot of bold – the Negroni will not only satisfy, but it will prepare you for dinner. Salute
Classically it is served on the rocks as:
1 oz Gin
3/4 oz Campari
3/4 oz Vermouth
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