Negroni
| IBA official cocktail | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Cocktail |
| Base spirit | |
| Served | On the rocks: poured over ice |
| Standard garnish | |
| Standard drinkware |  |
| IBA specified ingredients† | |
| Preparation | Stir into glass over ice, garnish and serve. |
The Negroni cocktail is made of 1 part gin, 1 part sweet vermouth, and 1 part bitters, traditionally Campari. It is considered an apéritif, a pre-dinner cocktail intended to stimulate the appetite.
It was invented by General Pascal Olivier Count de Negroni. Here is his brief bio:
(Born: Castle of San Colombano 4 April 1829- Died: Alencon, Orne, 22 October 1913).
Pascal joined the French Army at 18 years of age and retired as a Brigadier General after a long illustrious career spanning 44 years. He is best remembered in the French Army annals for leading the legendary charge of cuirassiers in the Battle of Reichsoffen during the Franco Prussian War of 1870. As a reward for his valiant actions and exemplary conduct he was personally decorated on 20 August 1870 by the French Emperor, Louis Napoleon, with the Officer's Cross of the Imperial Legion of Honor. On 3 September 1870 he was captured by the Prussians during the Battle of Sedan and spent time as a prisoner of war until his liberation 28 March 1871. On 27 December 1884 he was promoted to Brigadier General and on 4 May 1889 he was named Commander of the Legion of Honor. In 1891 he retired to his Chateau de Rochefeuille, near Mayenne, Mayenne. Pascal Olivier was the reputed inventor of the famous “Negroni Cocktail” (equal parts of Campari, Gin, and Sweet Vermouth, served in a short glass over ice and garnished with an orange slice).
Courtesy of Noel X. Negroni, direct descendant of Count de Negroni.
Variations
Variants of the Negroni also exist:
- A Negroni made with bourbon instead of gin is called a Boulevardier. Most recipes call for slightly more bourbon (4:3:3 instead of 1:1:1)
- A less authentic, but also less mouth-puckering, recipe is equal measures of gin, red vermouth and white vermouth.
- In the United States, the Negroni is often served "straight up" in a martini glass, with a dash of sparkling water and lemon, rather than orange zest.
- For a hot summer day, the Negroni can be stretched into a thirst quencher with soda (see Americano).
- the Negroni Sbagliato ("Wrong" Negroni), where spumante brut is substituted for the gin. It was invented at Bar Basso in Milan. Popular in Italy.
- the Negroski, where vodka is substituted for the gin. Popular in Italy.
- the Brunosky where the vodka is Grey Goose L'Orange and is served with a splash of Schweppes bitter lemon.
- A Sparkling Negroni is a Negroni served straight up in a martini glass with champagne or prosecco added. This is usually served with an orange twist.
- A Negroni served with orange juice was named a Negroni Malato (Sick Negroni) at Bar Piccolino in Exchange Sq, London during the 2007 financial crisis, by Italian bankers employed at nearby RBS offices.
See also
Bibliography
- Luca Picchi, Sulle tracce del conte. La vera storia del cocktail Negroni, edizioni Plan
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~prwgw/negroni_01.htm
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