By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
September 16, 2022 (IANSlife) As the legend goes, Negroni was conceived in the heart of Italy as a replacement for the Americano - a classic cocktail with Sweet Vermouth, Red Italian Bitters, topped with Soda Water and garnished with a lemon peel. However, when the Soda Water was exchanged for Gin and the Lemon Peel for an Orange, we get the Negroni.
A classic like the Negroni is surely an acquired taste owing to the cocktail's distinctive bitter palate and is typically had during the "Aperitivo Hour", a ritual in Italy that honors the onset of the night and is consumed as a pre-meal drink to evoke an appetite. Paired with light canapes, there are many variations of a classic Negroni. However, one of the most popular ones is Old Pal, where the gin is substituted for Rye or Whiskey.
With Negroni week on the horizon, Bombay Sapphire and Martini bring you the perfect opportunity to be homebound slightly earlier than usual, in the coming week. Picture being perched amongst your favorite nook, unwinding with a glass that boasts of the bittersweet characteristics of Gin and Vermouth.
Whether you're a purist who appreciates the classics, or someone who inclines a bit towards the experimental side and swaps the "Old Pal" rye with a decadent double-aged scotch whiskey, IANSlife has a recipe for each of you!
Classic Negroni
Invented at Caffe Casoni in Florence, Italy in 1919. Legend tells that Count Camillo Negroni asked his friend, bartender Forsco Scarselli, to strengthen his Favourite cocktail – the Americano – by replacing the soda water with gin. So a classic was born.
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Old Mate
A Scottish take on Old Pal typically made with Rye, obviously swaps out for a delicious double-aged Dewar’s 12 blended scotch whisky.
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Rosita
Although Mexico and Italy are thousands of kilometers from each other it is a wonder that Italian bitters and vermouth really compliment so many flavors that tequila can present. In this riff on a Negroni, we use Martini Fiero as it doesn’t have quite the dry bitter punch that Campari has so it lets the tequila and vermouth shine in harmony.
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Negroni Sour
Maybe a rich dark and bitter cocktail isn’t your ideal match but you want to try new things. Try this; a little lemon juice and (optional) egg white really tones down the bitterness and brings out the floral flavors of the gin and vermouth.
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+ Lemon twist as garnish
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N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in