Overview
Equal parts Campari, gin and vermouth, the simple-yet-outstanding tipple is the reigning champ of cocktails. And that's not hyperbole — it currently holding the title of the best-selling cocktail worldwide.
In 2022, Negroni Week — the seven days of festivities in honour of the delicious red sip presented by Campari and Imbibe — is holding up a glass to ten big, aperitivo-loving years. Over the past decade, some of the best bars and restaurants across the planet have put negronis front and centre for one week and given back to charity at the same time. And from Monday, September 12 till Sunday, September 18, a swishy roll call of Sydney venues will be doing just that. (Plus, as a celebratory bonus, Campari is giving you the chance to sip your way to Italy.)
Concrete Playground is home to more than a few negroni lovers, meaning the only difficult part of this where-to-go list was deciding on a top spot.
But before we share our picks, a few notable mentions. If you head to Aalia, the 25 Martin Place fine diner, don't go past the Ancient Negroni. It adds arak and bitter cacao to a classic negroni, then levels it up further with a run through a cold-drip coffee filter. In Double Bay, Matteo is serving an Arancia Negroni with notes of smoky citrus, while CBD spot Door Knock has added rhubarb to the mix with its Rhude Boi, which delivers a tart edge to the sweet 'n' slick classic.
Now, without further ado, here are the spots CP's editors are heading to get their fix this Negroni Week.
Nikki To
LILYMU: STRAWBERRY AND YUZU NEGRONI
I really like negronis. So, Negroni Week is basically Christmas for me. This year, I'll be gathering my nearest and dearest and heading to Lilymu in Parramatta to sample its celebratory version of the beautifully bitter and citrusy bev. Combining Campari (of course) and strawberry-infused yuzu gin with yuzu sake and americano vermouth, this cocktail has everything I look for in a twisted classic — a bold step away from the original (via the strawberry and yuzu flavours) while maintaining the structural integrity of the drink's origins. Plus, with spring on the horizon, this drink is giving the flirty tits-out-at-the-beach energy that I am longing for after a cold, wet winter in Sydney. Perfect.
Courtney Ammenhauser, Branded Content Manager
IN SITU: NEGRONI SOUR
There are few options that pair as harmoniously as a big bowl of cheesy pasta and a well-balanced negroni. Negroni Week is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of all the creative riffs on the classic all around Sydney, like In Situ's tart and refreshing Negroni Sour. A cross between a whisky sour and the week's namesake cocktail, the classic negroni is given a slick, modern makeover with blood orange and a tall glass.
Ellen Seah, National News and Features Editor
TITUS JONES: LOVE NOTE TO MANDY
One of life's true delights is finding a nook in a bustling cocktail bar and catching up with friends over a negroni. This Negroni Week, cocktail connoisseurs of the Inner West should head to Marrickville favourite Titus Jones, where they can nab a table and pair their cocktail of choice with Titus's beloved tacos. The friendly neighbourhood cocktail bar has whipped up two bitter red creations to celebrate. The first, Love Note to Mandy, plays it elegantly safe, adding the citrus notes of a mandarin-infused gin to Campari and Cinzano Rosso. Meanwhile the more extravagant Nero Negroni mixes things up with dashes of Lillet Blanc, Quiquiriqui Mezcal and blackened sesame oil.
Ben Hansen, Junior Editor
HICKSON HOUSE DISTILLERY: CONQUISTADOR
I don't care what anyone says, a negroni isn't just a perfect drink to have before dinner — it's a damn fine way to end an evening, too. That's why I'll be heading to Hickson House Distillery for this year's edition of Negroni Week. The premium venue — under the shade of the Harbour Bridge — is offering three varieties of the classic cocktail, including one that sounds like a dreamy liquid dessert. The Conquistador combines equal parts Campari and the excellent Hickson Rd. Australian Dry Gin — which is made onsite — with a nip of Mr Black coffee liqueur and two dashes of chocolate bitters. This tipple, which is served in a Nick & Nora glass with a cheek of fresh orange, also features Pedro Ximenez for a sweet, slightly umami kick, making for a perfect nightcap.
Nik Addams, Branded Content Manager
DONNY'S BAR: WHITE RHUBARB NEGRONI
Grace MacKenzie, Branded Content Producer
Campari's Negroni Week takes over Sydney from Monday, September 12 till Sunday, September 18. Head to the website to find the full list of participating venues.
Top image: Tim Levy