100 years of the negroni, a bittersweet Italian aperitif that’s having a moment as sweeter drinks fall from favour
- The bittersweet cocktail, said to have been invented in Florence in 1919, is a simple mix of gin, vermouth and Campari in equal parts
- In honour of the world’s second most popular cocktail, Hong Kong bars are marking Negroni Week with special deals, meals and prizes
Legend has it that one of the world’s most popular aperitifs was born in Florence, Italy, in 1919, when bartender Fosco Scarselli, asked to pep up Count Camillo Negroni’s Americano, switched out soda for gin and the result was met with instant approval. The entrepreneurial Negroni family quickly began producing a ready-made version of the drink and the rest is history.
Despite its age, the negroni – made with equal measures of gin, vermouth and Campari, poured into a short glass and garnished with orange peel – can still shake (or stir) it with the best tipples on the drinks menu.
Currently the world’s No 2 cocktail, Hong Kong is marking the lowball’s centenary this week with special offers and events in more than 20 bars.
In Sheung Wan, Italian restaurant 208 Duecento Otto is putting a summery spin on the drink by serving it with an orange-juice-and-Campari ice pop to create a negroni cooler. On Tuesday, the bar will also take up the challenge of making 208 negronis in 208 minutes, with all of the proceeds going to the Harmony House shelter for abused women and children.
With its bitter elements, the negroni can be an acquired taste, so its current popularity might come as a surprise. “It’s very bittersweet and dry, but, made right, the bitterness isn’t too strong,” says Nikki Che Hiu-lam, bartender at 208 Duecento Otto.
“It’s about balancing the Campari with the sweetness of the vermouth. It’s actually a very easy and refreshing drink. And it’s best to use a large block of ice in the glass, which prevents dilution.”
As sweeter mixes fall out of favour, the negroni, with its minimal adornments, might appeal to those who prefer a more sophisticated tipple, suggests 208’s general manager, Adrian Passow.
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Meanwhile, those who try negronis at participating bars in Kennedy Town this week will be issued with cards and can collect stamps for the chance to win prizes. Each establishment will serve up its own twist on the classic, with such adventurous takes as a negroni jam on sourdough ricotta toast and Campari cold brew at Fineprint, in Central.
Since its first edition in 2013, Negroni Week has grown to encompass 10,000 venues around the world, with US$2 million raised for charity.
Bottoms up for a good cause!
Negroni Week will run from June 24 to 30. Click here for more information.
