Recipe: Classic Negroni

When I recently read a blog post on BonAppetit.com called "How To Drink Like An Italian," I sat right up and took notice. "Italians drink differently than we do," explained Bon Appetit restaurant and drinks editor Andrew Knowlton. "They sip, stir, linger over low-octane cocktails." This sounded perfect to me. While I love a well-crafted cocktail, I feel tipsy after just one drink. Of the classic Italian cocktails described in the blog post, the one that spoke the loudest to me was the Negroni. Brilliant red in color, thanks to the Campari, the drink was described as “slightly bitter, slightly sweet.” I’ve ordered a Negroni at several restaurants around town now, but I was anxious to try my hand at the cocktail at home.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Campari bitters
• 2 ounces gin
• 2 ounces sweet vermouth
• Ice
• 2 lemon or orange twists, or orange slices

Instructions:

Fill a cocktail shaker or small pitcher with ice. Add the Campari, gin and vermouth and shake or stir until chilled, then divide the liquid between two glasses. You can serve it up in a martini glass or over ice in a lowball glass. Garnish with lemon or orange twists, or a slice of orange for each glass.

 This recipe was adapted by Jessica Webster and originally posted on AnnArbor.com on July 14, 2011.