As part of the recent Negroni Week, the global charitable initiative championed by Campari and Imbibe Magazine, everyone’s favorite Italian red bitter put together some unique and unusual cocktail recipes to try out.
Back for its 11th year, Negroni Week ran from September 18th – 24th. Over 12,000 bars and restaurants worldwide participated.
This year’s partner was Slow Food, a global movement of local communities and activists across more than 160 countries seeking to change the world through food and beverage. The Slow Food Negroni Week Fund is fueled by donations raised during Negroni Week and provides incubator grants of up to $15,000 for activities around the world that support and promote good, clean and fair food and beverage for all.
Of course, multiple NYC bars took part this year with innovative riffs on the classic red-hued cocktail with Campari at its heart. Here’s a few of them.
Cocktail Name: Negroni on Holiday
As we think of cocktails bars as an escape from the hustle of NYC, this takes that to another level with a resort spin on the classic Negroni
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Spiced Papaya Puree (papaya, cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper)
- .5 oz Campari
- .25 oz Lime
- .5 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 1.5 oz Cachaca
Method: Served on crushed ice with lime zest and black pepper
Cocktail Name: Bittersweet
With Mezcal, the agave and smoke adds a complexity to it. The creator wanted to add brightness and acidity while maintaining the classical equal parts of a Negroni build. By adding frozen strawberries and hibiscus flowers to the mezcal and allowing them to steep, not only did the acidity pop but the color adds to the brilliant hue of Campari. The addition of the Vietnamese black pepper tincture adds a touch of spice and dark aromatics which counter nicely with the bright lime oils from the peel. All ingredients combined create a complex, extra smooth and refreshingly tarte bittersweet cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Mezcal Union Uno infused with strawberries and hibiscus
- 1 oz Dolin Rouge Vermouth
- 1 oz Campari
- 6 drops Black Pepper Tincture
- Method: Pour ingredients in a glass and stir. Garnish with a lime peel
Cocktail Name: Negroni #23
Name is inspired by the year 2023 and the bar being located on 23rd St.
Ingredients
- 1oz Tarragon infused Sipsmith VJOP Gin
- 1oz Strawberry infused Campari
- 1oz R. Geoffroy Ratafia de Champagne
Method
- Infuse 5 stems of fresh tarragon with a 750ml bottle of Sipsmith VJOP for 24h at room temperature then strain.
- Sous vide 750ml of Campari with a dozen fresh sliced strawberries for 1h and strain through cloth.
- Combine both spirits equal parts in a bottle and store in the freezer.
