Chin-Chin! National Negroni Week
Negroni Week, presented by Imbibe Magazine and Campari
I can't imagine a better way to begin my Birthday week - and the fact that Negroni Week begins on my Birthday is even better! Negroni is certainly an acquired taste. Made with equal parts of Campari, gin and sweet vermouth, this drink has a strong and bitter taste - some have stated that it should be stored in a medicine cabinet!
Liquor.com states that the Negroni is one of the few cocktails with a traceable history that goes all the way back to the begining of 20th century. "Its origins are documented in the book Sulle Tracce del Conte: La Vera Storia del Cocktail Negroni, which was written by Lucca Picchi, head bartender at Caffe Rivoire in Florence, Italy. The drink was created at Bar Casoni in Florence, according to Picchi, when Count Camillo Negroni ordered an Americano—sweet vermouth, Campari and club soda—with gin swapped in for the standard soda."
The Negroni is once again in favor with mixologists, .joining both the Dry Martini and the Manhattan to form the Triple Crown of classic cocktails. Many attribute this newfound popularity to the fact that the beverage is incredibly well-balanced and that it's almost impossible to make badly.
“Campari has associations. Summer-weight suits with narrow lapels, Ray-Ban Wayfarers, Vespas, brown-eyed blondes in Capri pants. La dolce vita. A violently red, bittered-up 48-proof vermouth doesn’t sound like much to build a cocktail culture on, but somehow it works. In fact, the Negroni is one of the world’s indispensable cocktails.” Esquire”
This year, from June 1-7, bars around the world will mix their favorite version of the Negroni, donating a portion of proceeds from each one sold to a charity of their choice. In Fairfield County some of your favorite restaurants and bars have joined in on the the fun and will be pouring these sweet and aromatic cocktails with proceeds going to Community Plates, Fairfield County’s local food rescue organization. (If you live elsewhere check your town's restaurant to see where you can participate.)
Negroni Week, presented by Imbibe Magazine and Campari launched in 2013 as a celebration of one of the world’s great cocktails and an effort to raise money for charitable causes around the world. From 2013 to 2014, Negroni Week grew from more than 100 participating bars to more than 1,300 participating bars around the world and more than $120,000 raised for charities.
Negroni Week, presented by Imbibe Magazine and Campari
The local Restaurants that are Shaking, Stirring and Pouring:
Amore Cucina & Bar, Stamford
Brick+ Wood, Fairfield
NEAT, Westport
Rizzuto’s Oyster Bar & Restaurant, Westport
Rizzuto’s Sports Bar, Stamford
Rizzuto’s Wood-fired Pizza Kitchen, Bethel
Table 104 Osteria & Bar, Stamford
Vespa, Westport.
You can follow all of the Negroni Week action on Imbibe’s Instagram and Twitter feeds (@imbibe) and by following the #NegroniWeek hashtag. For more information and updates on participating Connecticut restaurants, check out: www.negroniweek.com
For those of you wanting to try at home...
How to Make a Negroni
1 1/2 ounces gin -- London dry gin
3/4 ounce Campari
3/4 ounce vermouth -- Italian vermouth
cocktail glass
Shake well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of orange peel.