The places to be for World Negroni Week

Every year since 2013, World Negroni Week has been celebrating the greatest cocktail on earth. Bars across the globe donate money from every Negroni sold to the cause of their choice. For the 1500-strong venues worldwide it’s a chance for them to support their favourite causes – for us, it’s a bloody good excuse to drink lots of Negronis!

It’s not 100% clear where this cocktail started out. However, the favourite version of its origin sensibly has the Negroni starting life in Italy. Count Camillo Negroni approaches the gaffer of Bar Casoni in 1920s Florence.

Tonight, the Count needs more metal than his customary Americano can deliver.

He asks for the soda water in the Campari, sweet vermouth and soda classic cocktail to be removed. In its place he asks for an equal shot of gin – he’s had a tough day, y’see.

And voila! Presto! The Negroni leaps from the primordial ooze.

Fast forward a long way to 2013 to when the chaps at Imbibe Magazine decide to do it properly and celebrate this most excellent cocktail.

World Negroni Week 2015 – 1st – 7th June.

World Negroni Week is a movement that encourages bars around the globe to raise money for the cause of their choosing by donating a percentage of every Negroni sold during that week.

By 2015 over 2500 bars have signed up. In 2014, bars internationally raised over US$120,000 for charities. This year should be even better.

Find bars in your area that are taking part in World Negroni Week 2015 here and check out each bar’s preferred charity.

If you’re not near a bar taking part (or you’re feeling a little lazy – no judgement), here’s everything you need for a classic, delicious homemade Negroni:

Classic Negroni

Here’s what you need:
–  1 part Campari
–  1 part sweet vermouth
–  1 part gin
–  Lots of ice
–  Orange peel to garnish
–  Old fashioned glass, stirrer

Here’s what you do:
1. Put the ice in the glass – enough to ¾ fill the glass.
2. Build the drink over the ice in the order of ingredients.
3. Stir well and garnish with a strip of orange juice curled over the rim of the glass.

Tip: If you have a stirring jar, mix the drink here first while you’re chilling the glass then strain over fresh ice to avoid watering your drink down too much too fast.

Alternatively, if the drink’s too bitter for you, try Aperol instead of Campari. It’s a bit sweeter and less orangey but still delicious.

This drink – The Contessa – does lose a little of the richness of a Negroni but it’s still perfect for a Sunday wind-down or a good start-up drink on a night out.

For more cocktail recipes like this one, check out our cocktail ebook here.

New variations on the Negroni are coming out all the time. Check out the Gin Queen’s 4 different styles of Negroni for you to try.

Have a great Negroni Week, wherever you might be.

Where will you be for Negroni Week this year? Which bars are you heading to? Tell us in the comments!

Images by Mrs Romance.