A mix of equal parts gin, vermouth rosso (red) and Campari, a Negroni is hardly new; it has a history that dates back more than 100 years, to at least 1919 and one Count Negroni, who as legend has it, had a fondness for strong drinks and had worked as a rodeo clown in the U.S. before ending up in Florence, Italy.
Ready-made versions have existed for a few years elsewhere in the world, but this cocktail-in-a-bottle version is new to the Canadian market, and it is just what the world needs as a chic, easy aperitivo on a Friday or Saturday afternoon in the summer. Just chill, pour over ice into an old-fashioned glass, and garnish with an orange wheel.
Then imbibe slowly, while thinking of the late, great Anthony Bourdain. A big fan of Negronis, one of the world’s most popular cocktails, he reportedly once told a reporter that “those things hit you like a freight train after four or five.” About $23 for a 375-mL bottle.