Ah, Negroni Week.
One of my favourite celebrations for one simple fact;
I love everything about this cocktail.
by Murray Anderson - @TheWestmount
The Love for the Negroni
The love for the negroni brings me to my first reason - it is incredibly simple to make a delicious one at home. No fancy equipment needed. Adding equal parts of a good London Dry Gin, Campari and Vermouth di Torino will get you about 80% of the way there. All you need to do to finish creating this amazing drink is simply stir over ice until ice cold and diluted sufficiently, then pour into your favourite NUDE rocks glass.
If you're hosting a cocktail party, you're laughing. Just add the same quantities of gin, vermouth, campari and water to a large jug or bottle, give it a good shake (with the lid on of course), and leave it in the fridge until it's ice cold. Once your guests have arrived, get the NUDE glasses out, fill them with ice and pour away!
The Secret is to Keep it Simple
When it comes to variations of the negroni, I have always kept things simple. Working with subtle infusions or swapping out an ingredient here and there is as far as I would take it. After all, when a cocktail born in the 1860s has stood the test of time, it clearly does not need to be meddled with too much.
I recently worked with NUDE to prepare some of my own variations with a selection of my favourite NUDE glassware. My first cocktail was a light, refreshing twist on the Negroni Sbagliato using a rhubarb infused campari, paired with the beautifully light Cocchi Rosa, then finished with sparkling rose prosecco. I found that this cocktail worked perfectly in NUDE's Caldera glass, but would also work well as a highball, like NUDE's Big Top or Finesse selection for example.
Add Personality to your Negroni with NUDE
When it comes to pairing your NUDE glassware with your negroni, always look at the glassware like it has a personality of sorts. Does it look soft, inviting and delicate? If so, potentially pair this with a cocktail that fits that description, like an Americano or spritz. On the other hand, a robust cocktail like the negroni, boulevardier, vieux carré etc. would be better suited in a glass that matches up well to a cocktail with a higher ABV. I would recommend a glass like Big Top DOF for example. It has a beautiful art-deco styled design and is perfect weight when held in your hand.
I have always said, if you look for quality in everything that you do - whether it be in the ingredients you choose, or the glassware you buy - you are bound to make fantastic cocktails at home.
Happy Negroni Week everyone!
Murray Anderson's Negroni Recipes:
Mediterranean Negroni
30ml Naval Strength Gin
30ml Olive oil washed Campari
30ml Sweet Vermouth di Torino
Garnish with an olive and citrus zest
Rhubarb Sbagliato
30ml Rhubarb infused Campari
30ml Cocchi Rosa
Top with Ros Prosecco
Garnish with rhubarb ribbon
Classic Negroni
30ml London Dry Gin
30ml Campari
30ml Sweet Vermouth di Torino
Citrus Wedge garnish
