Negroni: The Journey of a Cocktail
The Negroni is a stronger version of the Americano, a cocktail made of club soda, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Count Camilo Negroni loved his Americano yet he was craving for something stronger. Sometime in 1919, he instructed his bartender to create something that is like the Americano but with a kick. Since the club soda was the weak link for this cocktail, it was replaced with gin and so the Negroni was born.
The cocktail made a huge breakthrough that year that the Negroni family started their distillery that same year. They also started bottling Negroni and sold it under the name Negroni Antico. Since then, the Negroni has been a staple in any bar scene.
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Calories 200
Calories from fat 0 1 %DV*
Sodium 3.5 mg 0 %DV
Carbohydrates 12 g 4 %DV
Fiber 0 g 0 %DV
Sugar 10 g 12 %DV
Protein 0.1 g
1 serving = 3 ounces
*Note: Percent Daily Values are based in a 2000-calorie diet
The Negroni is the ultimate result of constant tweaking of cocktails prior to its creation. Here, we pay homage to the cocktails that gave us this amazing aperitif.
The Americano is the nearest relative of the Negroni as this is the cocktail that inspired Count Camillo Negroni to make it into a stronger Negroni by exchanging the club soda with gin. It tempers the bitterness of the Campari by adding club soda.
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The Milano Torino is the grandfather of the Negroni, usually made with equal parts Campari and vermouth. It derives its name from the place where Campari is made (Milan) and Turin where the vermouth was made. It was first created in the 1860s.
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The Negroni has so many variations that will possibly fill a short book. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Punt e Mes is a good way to describe the vermouth’s flavor bittersweet profile - 1 point sweet and half-point bitter. It is a good companion for the Campari but makes it a less vivid red with its brown color. Perfect for the Chocolate Negroni.
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Count Mast Negroni swaps the Campari with Jagermeister, a digestif made of 56 herbs and spices giving it an extra sweetness and body.
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Tired of the bitter Negroni? Try the less assertive version of the cocktail in the Unusual Negroni.
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A good riff for the Negroni which swaps bourbon for the gin and without the sweet vermouth. This is the more manly version of the Negroni.
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Take your Negroni to the next level by serving it in a smoky ice sphere instead of directly into the rocks glass.
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Red is a bit aggressive? Clarify it with milk.
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Give your classic Negroni a delightful twist by rinsing your serving glass with absinthe, lending it an anise and herbal aroma.
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Created by Ryan Williams, this cocktail is a fusion of the classic Negroni and the Ramos Gin Fizz. Brace yourself with all the shaking, folks, this might be the treat you’ll need after that workout!
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Ready to throw in some serious stuff into your favorite Negroni? If chocolate truffles are delicious as food, it sure is delicious on drinks, despite that signature funky smell. You need at least 24 hours to prepare this delicious digestif if you want to serve it for your next
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Add a touch of mystique to your Negroni by adding fresh pomegranate arils for that healthy touch.
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Prepare your rosemary-infused mezcal at least 24 hours before you serve this cocktail, giving it a Mexican feel. The rosemary lends a pungent lemony flavor and aroma to the mezcal.
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For the rosemary-infused Campari
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Give yourself a treat with this creamy and frothy Negroni recipe. This recipe makes five 3-oz servings.
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Take decadence to a new level with this chocolate Negroni garnished with chocolate orange.
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Gotta love this spicy riff of the Negroni with the addition of the Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur made with dried and smoky poblano (also called ancho) chiles.
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Try your Negroni with all English ingredients. Blackdown gin and vermouth is made in Blackdown, Sussex while Stellacello is made in London. The Stellacello is the slightly sweeter version of the Campari.
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Indulge in some smoky take of the classic Negroni, minus the sweet vermouth. The mezcal gives it a hint of smokiness while the Cocchi Americano gives it a sweetness that balances the bitter Campari.
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Aperol is tamer in terms of bitterness compared to
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Hot summer day? Cool off with your favorite Negroni with a riff. Lots of ice and soda for that super cool, slightly fizzy cocktail.
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A good word play for the agave from which the tequila is made and the Negroni gives you the Agavoni.
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Do not be fooled with the ice cream, it’s not what you might expect. Rich, bittersweet cocktail with a kick of slight pepper taste of the juniper berries.
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For the juniper ice cream
For the Negroni syrup
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When one mistake makes the best accomplishment - that’s what Sbagliato is. Literally meaning “mistaken”, the bartender unknowingly swapped gin with sparkling wine while making a Negroni. This is one mistake that gained a lot of accolades since, at least among bar-goers.
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You’re not a professional drinker unless you can take this over-proofed Jamaican rum (126 proof, 63% ABV). This stings more than it should and you’re only a professional if you can down this without a wince.
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Craving for coffee but can’t afford to lose sleep? Give in by ordering the Cold Brew Negroni tonight.
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Campari goes with anything since it is an aperitif. The bittersweet profile of the Negroni is a good way to whet your appetite. Finding good food to pair with Negroni is a fairly easy task.
Your ultimate comfort food makes a good pairing with Campari. Topped with grated cheese, breadcrumb, and crunchy bacon and baked to gooey perfection. Just what you need to share with friends you’re comfortable with.
Best served with creamy tomato sauce, this zesty crostini pairs well with the bittersweet Negroni. Better, you can prepare it in 20 minutes. All you need is some baguette and some very basic ingredients you can find in your pantry and fridge.
Glazed with honey-bourbon syrup, this adult version of everyone’s favorite bacon wrap is the perfect choice to enjoy with the Negroni. Creamy cheese, salty bacon, and sweet glaze is a truly tasty treat.
Who can say no to steak? The Campari is a good aperitif and eating a heavy meal such as this is no problem with your trusty Negroni by your side.
Made with 4 kinds of cheese, crackers and pretzels, cold meats of choice, grapes, nuts of choice, dry fruits of choice and garnished with lettuce and a sprinkle of raisins, this cheese board has everything you need.
First off, the Negroni is actually a variation of 3 predecessor cocktails - the Americano being its tamer yet closer relative. The Americano was a variation of the Milano-Torino.
It is called Negroni because it was Count Negroni who requested for a stronger alternative to his tame Americano. The bartender, Fosco Scarselli of Casoni Bar in Florence, Italy, the bar that Count Negroni frequented, threw in equal parts of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Since then, it was known as Count Negroni’s drink then eventually became known as Negroni.
Pascal Olivier Count de Negroni (1829-1913) was a decorated general mostly known for his leading the Battle of Reichshoffen during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. He retired from the military in 1891 after serving for 44 years. Although many books and articles credit one Camillo Negroni, an Italian Count, as the inventor of the Negroni, the family of Pascal Olivier de Negroni claimed there is no Camillo Negroni. Instead, it was the French Count Negroni who invented the cocktail.
However, evidence showed that there was really an Italian-born Camillo Negroni who was also a count. Books were written on the quest of the real Count Negroni behind the Negroni cocktail. One such book is the The Negroni: Drinking to La Dolce Vita, with Recipes and Lore by Gary Regan. But one fact remains, it was the Italian Negroni family who made the best of the cocktail’s fame by starting the Distilleria Negroni in 1919. The distillery is still in operation but no longer owned by the Negroni family.
The Negroni is supposed to be a straight, clean drink but many also love using soda or other sources of carbonation to it as you can see in this article.
Negroni is usually served on the rocks and garnished with an orange swath to differentiate it from Americano, its predecessor which is garnished with a lemon swath.
Negroni is made of equal parts of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari and is garnished with an orange swath.
Negroni is a good aperitivo. As it is, it is usually drunk before a meal as it serves to whet the appetite. The bittersweet goodness of the cocktail makes it a good choice for an aperitif since it opens the palate well and gets you to eat more. On its own, the classic Negroni has 200 calories for 3-ounce serving and if you opt for frothy versions, it can have more.
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