Negroni

The Negroni is one of the world's most iconic aperitivo cocktails. Born in Florence, Italy in 1919 when Count Camillo Negroni asked bartender Forsco Scarselli to strengthen his favorite Americano by replacing soda water with gin. This bold equal-parts cocktail combines gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth to create a perfectly balanced aperitif that's simultaneously bitter, sweet, and botanical. The standard recipe (1:1:1 ratio) creates a complex, contemplative drink that rewards slow sipping. Served over ice in a rocks glass with an orange peel, the Negroni embodies Italian aperitivo culture and sophisticated cocktail appreciation. The drink's ruby-red color, assertive bitterness, and perfect balance have made it a bartender favorite and a benchmark of craft cocktail culture. The Negroni's resurgence in the 2000s-2010s paralleled the craft cocktail renaissance, with bartenders celebrating its simple complexity and bitter elegance. Variations abound—from the Boulevardier (bourbon instead of gin) to the White Negroni (Suze and Lillet Blanc replacing Campari and vermouth)—but the original remains the gold standard. The cocktail represents Italian sophistication, bartender credibility, and the acquired taste for bitterness. Whether served at a Florentine café or a Brooklyn cocktail bar, the Negroni signals refined drinking and aperitif appreciation.