Negroni Week: The history of the Negroni and 5 recipes to discover
From September 21st to 27th, Negroni Week celebrates one of the most iconic cocktails in mixology. A subtle balance of bitterness, sweetness, and strength that, more than a century after its creation, continues to inspire bartenders around the world.
For the occasion, Maison Villevert invites you to discover the history of the Negroni and 5 ways to reinterpret it at home, from the French-style Negroni to the spectacular Stratospheric Negroni.
And throughout Negroni Week, enjoy 10% off our Negroni selection at maisonvillevert.com.
The Negroni, an iconic cocktail
To understand the history of the Negroni, head to Florence, at the beginning of the 20th century.
Legend has it that Count Camillo Negroni wanted to add more character to his Americano, a cocktail traditionally made with red vermouth, bitter, and sparkling water.
He reportedly asked the bartender Fosco Scarselli to replace the sparkling water with gin. To differentiate this new creation, the slice of lemon from the Americano was also replaced with an orange.
The Negroni was born.
Its recipe has since established itself thanks to a balance that has become iconic: gin, red vermouth, and bitter, traditionally combined in equal parts.
But the strength of the Negroni also lies in its ability to be reinterpreted. Changing one ingredient, using a different spirit, or simply modifying its presentation is enough to create a new experience.
For Negroni Week, we suggest five for you.
The French-style Negroni 🇫🇷
What if we gave the Negroni a French twist?
This interpretation combines the character of Nouaison Gin with the aromatic richness of La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Rouge, crafted from Pineau des Charentes.
Ingredients
- 45 ml Nouaison Gin
- 45 ml La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Rouge
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Preparation
Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes. Stir gently with a spoon and serve over ice.
The White Negroni 🤍
Same inspiration, different color.
The White Negroni offers a lighter, more botanical interpretation of the cocktail. Here, Nouaison Gin meets La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Blanc and the characteristic bitterness of Suze.
Ingredients
- 30 ml of Nouaison Gin
- 50 ml of La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Blanc
- 30 ml of Suze
Preparation
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes. Stir until the desired dilution is reached, then serve well chilled.
The Medici Negroni 🇮🇹
Back to the Italian origins of the Negroni with a recipe showcasing Amaro Santoni.
Crafted in Tuscany, Amaro Santoni brings a flavor profile to the cocktail that blends floral, herbaceous, and citrus notes.
Ingredients
- 40 ml Nouaison Gin
- 40 ml La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Rouge
- 20 ml Amaro Santoni
Preparation
Pour the three ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir gently and serve over ice.
The Aged Barrel Negroni 🥃
For this fourth recipe, the Negroni gains even more depth.
The traditional gin gives way to Nouaison Gin Reserve, whose aging in cognac casks adds an extra dimension to the recipe.
Ingredients
- 45 ml Nouaison Gin Reserve
- 45 ml La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Rouge
- 2 dashes orange bitters
Preparation
Stir all ingredients with ice using a bar spoon, then serve over ice.
An interpretation to discover for those seeking a more intense and complex Negroni.
The Stratospheric Negroni 🧊
To finish, we barely change the recipe… but completely change the way it is served.
The Stratospheric Negroni is trapped inside an ice sphere that you will have to break to release the cocktail.
Ingredients
- 45 ml Nouaison Gin
- 45 ml La Quintinye Vermouth Royal Rouge
- 2 dashes orange bitters
How to make the ice sphere?
Fill a small balloon with water and hang it in your freezer for about 4 hours.
The goal is to let the outside solidify while keeping water liquid in the center.
Carefully remove the balloon, make a small hole in the ice, and then extract the water still present inside using a syringe.
Prepare your Negroni separately before delicately filling the sphere with the cocktail.
All that's left is to serve.
Break the ice… and release your Negroni.
To each their own Negroni
French-style, white, with Florentine accents, barrel-aged, or encased in a sphere of ice: behind a recipe that has become iconic lie a multitude of possibilities.
Negroni Week, from September 21st to 27th, is the perfect opportunity to experiment and find your favorite interpretation.
