The Negroni is a classic Italian cocktail. Like most Campari-based drinks, it’s traditionally had as a pre-dinner aperitif, in order to stimulate the appetite.

Negroni

• 1 ounce gin
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• Orange zest for garnish

Combine the liquid ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Stir for 20 to 30 seconds, until cold, and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass, or over ice into an old fashioned glass. Flame the orange zest over the drink and then float it on top.

This is the sort of drink you’ll want to adjust to your own taste, altering the amounts of vermouth and Campari as you prefer. For best results, use a full-bodied vermouth such as Punt e Mes.

Like most (all?) Campari-based drinks, Sarai doesn’t care for this one. Despite my best efforts at getting her to acquire a taste for Campari, it’s slow going. As they say over at Drink Dogma,

Helping people to appreciate Campari is kind of like teaching a child to play catch. You know you’re going to hit them in the face, but this is something they need to learn so they can enjoy future experiences.

So true.

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