Measures
1 oz. or 25ml Gin
1 oz. or 25ml Campari
1 oz. or 25ml Sweet (red) Vermouth
3 medium ice cubes or 5 small ice cubes
Garnishes
Orange twist (or)
Half an orange slice
Glasses
Straight-sided Tumbler
Smooth Angled Tumbler
How to Prepare a Negroni Cocktail
Negroni recipes usually call for the drink to be combined in equal parts. It is best stirred and not shaken. There is no need for strainers or other paraphernalia making this a very honest and down-to-earth drink. Simply add all the elements by pouring over three to five very well frozen ice cubes and then stirring until cold. Add a twist of orange – never lemon or lime – and serve.
It has recently become popular to replace the orange twist with a slice or segment of orange to sweeten and soften the earthiness of the drink. There is some debate about whether this is considered an acceptable practice.
The Negroni Story
The Negroni is a much-loved Italian cocktail said to originate in Firenze, Italy, although strictly speaking it is classed as an aperitif. Made from one part gin, one part vermouth rosso (red, semi-sweet), and one part Campari it is then garnished with an orange peel twist.
As with many cocktails, the exact history of the Negroni is unclear. The origin of the cocktail is generally attributed to Count Camillo Negroni who, in 1919, accidentally invented it by insisting that that the bartender of the Casoni Bar, Fosco Scarselli strengthen his favourite drink, the Americano, by adding gin rather than the usual soda water. Scarselli is said to have then switched the traditional lemon twist for an orange one to mark the recipe change and make it easier to recognise when serving. Pretty soon everyone in the bar was drinking Count Negroni’s Americano which soon became known as a just a Negroni.
However, Colonel Hector Negroni claims that his ancestor, General Pascal Olivier de Negroni, Count de Negroni, actually invented the drink in 1857 in Senegal. This Count Negroni was actually French and is said to have shared the drink with fellow officers at the Luneville Club where is quickly became popular.
The Negroni was a favourite of Orson Wells, a great American actor, director, screenwriter and producer often referred to as the father of modern film.
