Celebrate 2016 Negroni Week!

It’s Negroni Week! As you have undoubtedly noticed, I have a deep and passionate love for the Negroni, which I consider to be quite possibly the most perfect of the classic cocktails.  It is a drink that is not too sweet full of bitter, herbal, and citrus flavors that can spawn an infinite number of variations.  You can just look back at last month’s Mixology Monday post, The Arkansano Corretto, for an example of how to stretch a Negroni.

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Imbibe magazine and Campari  team up every year for Negroni Week and it is upon us once again.  Simply put, restaurants and bars worldwide sign up and pledge to donate a share of the proceeds from every Negroni or Negroni variation sold during Negroni Week to charity.

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In Central Arkansas, we have three restaurants participating (though I hope to see more join them next year) – The Pantry, Trios, and Big Orange Midtown

 

Photography by Arshia Khan

Photography by Arshia Khan

The Pantry is taking part in Negroni Week with their  bottled Negroni using Bokers Gin, Cocchi Torino Vermouth, and the ever classic Campari. Both The Pantry and Pantry Crest are taking part with these beautiful bottled Negronis. The Pantry has been one of my favorite spots in town since it opened combining excellent food, wonderful cocktails, and a truly The designated charity here is Rescue Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trios has been offering seriously fantastic cocktails.  I mentioned them when I did the Eat Arkansas piece on Sazeracs drink.  Merrick has been making exceptional and exceptionally well crafted cocktails at Trios and has joined the Negroni Week bandwagon! With six different Negroni variations available, there is one for the classicist(The Classic), one for the drinker new to the Negroni(Intro to Negroni), and one for the experimental drinker(Negroni Fronteriera).  The designated charity here is Heifer International.IMG_2199

Big Orange Midtown has taken Negroni variations to a whole new level! For Negroni Week, Big Orange Midtown is donating a share of every Negroni formula cocktail they make and leaving it up to us, the consumers, to make one of those variations from a list of liquors, amari, and sweetened wines with over 300 possibilities.  This should come as no surprise as Big Orange has steeped their bar program in well made classics from their inception. Sadly, the original Big Orange West location doesn’t have quite the space in the bar to accommodate this event. Big Orange is also doing a giveaway for Dinner for Two if you take part in a special Big Orange specific Negroni Week hashtag.  Ask your server for details! The designated charity here is The Arkansas Foodbank.

1333-65a1-cc73-a4f3I went crazy on this one with El Dorado Rum, Cocchi Torino, and Elixisir Novasalus. Something for everybody!

eb4e-59e0-6008-0610I encourage you to make it to one of these fine local establishments this week to take part in Negroni Week and help a good cause while enjoying a good drink. If you make it out to enjoy, show your support on social media using #NegroniWeek on Twitter or Instagram and letting Imbibe know