There are few cocktails as perfect as the Negroni, a three-part drink developed in 1919. It’s sweet, bitter, refreshing, and filling all in one ruby-hued glass.
Traditionally composed of equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, the Negroni hails from Caffè Casoni in Florence, the place credited for the masterpiece. Orson Welles brought light to the cocktail in 1947, bringing the Negroni to the United States. From there new variations started popping up. Thanks to a push from Campari and an excellent public relations plan, the Negroni became solidified in the modern bar scene. Now we have National Negroni Week, which launched in 2013, and was created in tandem with Campari and Imbibe magazine.
The celebration of the Negroni has continued on these 10-plus years, and this week Negroni Week falls on September 16 to 22. Use it as an excuse to familiarize yourself with all the wonderful versions of this classic cocktail. Or grab a classic one. There are no wrong answers, just good drinks.
Negroni Sbagliato
Dubbed the “mistaken Negroni,” the Negroni Sbagliato is a refreshing take on the classic that drinks more like a spritz. Bar Basso in Milan is credited with the invention, which dates back to the 1960s. In the glass you’ll find Prosecco in lieu of gin, as well as the usual combination of vermouth and Campari.
Find the Negroni Sbagliato ($13) at The Bindery in LoHi. It’s under the “hair of the dog” category on the drinks menu, and given it’s a lower ABV than most cocktails, we can see why. For a super casual place to sip the Negroni Sbagliato, Parisi in Berkeley offers one for $10. Best part, you can get it to go.
Special for Negroni Week, Denver Milk Market has the Moo Bar Negroni Sbagliato ($10). Bonus, for each cocktail sold, $1 will be donated to No Kid Hungry.
White Negroni
In 2002 the White Negroni made the scene thanks to British cocktail guru, Wayne Collins. While the bright red color of a traditional Negroni remains part of the charm, the white version has a vibrancy all its own. To make the drink, Lillet Blanc and the French aperitif Suze replace the vermouth and Campari. It’s not actually white, but more of an electric yellow color.
At the newly opened Saverina in the Denver Tech Center area, the Negroni Bianco di Roma ($16) is a take on the White Negroni. It uses Lillet Blanc, Suze, and a gin infused with strawberry, which adds a subtle fruity sweetness. Bar Dough also has a White Negroni ($15), but this version uses Tanqueray Sevilla Orange, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, and Carpano Bianco.
Boulevardier
For those claiming gin isn’t their thing, you’re in luck. The Boulevardier uses whiskey in place of the gin, giving the drink a darker, warmer essence. It’s believed the American-born writer Erskine Gwynne invented the drink around 1927, naming it after his Paris-based magazine, Boulevardier.
Daily, from 4 to 7 p.m., Pony Up has a Boulevardier on the menu for $8. You can get it any time the bar is open, but it’s hard to beat the happy hour deal. The team at BEZEL Cocktail Lounge has concocted the Cocoa Boulevardier ($18), which uses elements like cacao and tobacco to add an intriguing layer of dark, rich flavors.
Negroni Week Specials
The ART Hotel’s FIRE Restaurant is celebrating Negroni Week with a special drink menu that not only offers different versions of the cocktail, but supports the global movement Slow Food at the same time. Enjoy any or all of the offered beverages, including the High and Dry (Aviation Gin, aperitivo, elderflower liqueur, orange blossom, cava, and grapefruit), Bottecelli Negroni (Aviation Gin, Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, aperitivo, and Foro Vermouth di Torino), and a classic take.
Panzano inside the Kimpton Monaco Hotel also offers a unique Negroni menu this week. Try the Alpine ($17) with Golden Moon Gin, Cocchi Americano, Gentian, Genepy, mint, and rosemary. Or jump start the evening with the Red Eye ($17), which features Dos Hombres Mezcal, Campari, Carpano Antico, and Caffe Borghetti Coffee Liqueur.
Bartender Matt Gotlin-Sheehan is whipping up specials at Ajax Downtown. In fact, he has four variations of the classic cocktail. Order each drink individually ($14) or purchase a flight and try them all ($16). The line up includes a traditional take with Family Jones gin, the Opaline Negroni (Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret, Saler’s, Dolin Blanc, and absinthe), Lima Amarga (La Venenosa Tabernas Raicilla, Suze, Dolin Blanc, and lime acid), and the St. Agrestis “Phony” Negroni. The later is an zero-proof option that really hits all the right notes.
