The Final Piece of the House Negroni
What Amaro addition lends the best final flourish to the recipe?
This went quicker than expected. I think that’s because, daunted by how much work the Martini took, I put more constraints on my House Negroni. A better version may be out there, outside of those rules, but I’m quite pleased with the result.
I left you last time with only 1 open question: what half ounce of amaro would round out my house cocktail? I tested every (available, pre-determined) option, and there was a clear winner.
With Aperol
It’s honestly difficult for me to tell that this isn’t 100% Campari - it’s a very “normal” Negroni. The place I do notice it, though, is a whole lot more sugar on the palate and some stronger orange on the finish. Aperol has a lot of both, and that’s where it adds in the cocktail. There’s not enough bitterness to quite balance those changes, and it doesn’t feel as complete as I’d like. If you find yourself wishing for a less-bitter Negroni, though, this might be your answer.
With Averna
Usually, I taste bitter orange first in a Negroni. But here, I’m punched in the face with herbs from the jump. That stays strong on the finish, and the herbs meld so well with the gin there that you want to drink it faster to have more of that moment of flavor. The orange does get a bit lost though, which makes the front of the drink a bit clumsy. Finishes great, but starts a bit rocky.
With Meletti
An extremely vibrant cocktail with a strong nose. Maybe too strong, but I have no idea why. All of the aromatics just come out to play as soon as they hit the glass. The gin is about the only thing on the finish after the bitterness dissipates on the palate. It’s almost like each part of the drink is a component: orange on the nose, bitter herbs on the palate, and aromatics on the finish.
With Cynar
I’ve always loved Cynar. I often made a Negroni with Cynar instead of Campari, but can’t recall mixing them until this month. I was missing out. It’s a very bitter, very fruity drink. And both of those notes come through throughout the drink. The herbs are strongest on the palate, supported by the strongest bitter notes. The gin does seem to get lost a bit as a result, but it pops back up on the finish.
My House Negroni
It’s Cynar. I thought it would be Meletti, but it’s Cynar. That’s a great drink - definitely a Negroni, but a bit different as well. I’m excited to mix many more of them for years to come.
1 oz Gin Mare
0.5 oz Martini Extra Dry Vermouth
0.5 oz Carpano Antica Formula
0.5 oz Campari
0.5 oz Cynar
It’s also better garnished with orange peel, I must admit. You don’t need it, but it works great. Drinks right at 21%, so not nearly as strong as it tastes.
Next, we leave gin behind and explore whiskey. Specifically, Bourbon, Specifically, in an Old Fashioned. That one will take a while…