I don’t normally write articles about food or drink that I don’t like, but this is an exception. I’m really not a big fan of the Negroni at all, but it is growing on me, everyone else here thinks it is great, and it is a classic after all.

Apart from the fact that everyone (except me) seems to love it, there is another good thing about this drink. The Negroni is surely one of the simplest cocktail recipes to remember ever. There is only one rule to remember – it’s equal parts. Equal parts of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth.

Questionable history

There are two popular stories about the origins of the Negroni. The first is that it was invented by General Pascal Olivier Count de Negroni, a Corsican living in France to aid digestion.

The second and more popular story is that the drink was invented at Caffè Casoni, Florence in 1919, when Count Camillo Negroni asked the bartender to make his favourite drink, the Americano with gin in place of the traditional soda.

Wherever it was born, the Negroni has grown up to be a classic cocktail. You can find it just about anywhere, and anyone should be able to make it. Somehow it doesn’t always taste right though, the problem is that if the proportions of the ingredients are even slightly out then it throws the whole drink out of kilter.

Dangerous

Although you are only ending up with what seems like a small drink, don’t be tempted to make it bigger. Bear in mind that this drink contains nothing but high strength alcohol ingredients, and it can be a bit dangerous. It’s not one of those things that make you instantly feel pissed, but it’s a creeper, you’ll think you are fine until you decide to stand up.

The garnish question

The traditional garnish for a Negroni is a lemon twist, which is unusual, because the traditional garnish for just about every other drink that contains Campari is some kind of orange.

I like to use an orange twist, but lemon also works, it’s really up to you.

What to do

I’ve included a dash of orange bitters in this recipe. It’s not part of the classic recipe, but I think that it enhances the flavours of the other ingredients.

1. Prechill a glass.

2. To a mixing glass add plenty of big ice.

3. Add the ingredients to the mixing glass.

4. Stir well and strain into the prechilled glass.

5. Garnish with an orange twist.