Invented in Florence in 1919, the Negroni cocktail has long been considered an Italian masterpiece in a glass. And lucky for us, Negroni Week—a week-long celebration that involves drinking for a good cause—is here.
From June 6-12, thousands of bars worldwide donate at least $1 per Negroni sold during Negroni Week, founded by Imbibe Magazine and Campari. Over $320,000 were raised for charity during last year’s weeklong global drinking fest.
The traditional Negroni bundles gin, sweet vermouth and a red bitter liqueur (like Campari or Aperol) with an orange peel finish. With a sophistication that can only come from a century-old Italian creation, the famed cocktail has an edgy bitterness that’s not exactly for the wine cooler crowd.
Which leads us to Negroni-extraordinaire bartender, William Perbellini. Born in Italy, William graduated from a culinary high school as a ‘gourmet bartender.’ Only in Europe does booze qualify as a major. Perbellini went on to tend bar at the prestigious Hotel Cipriani in Venice Italy. One night while behind the stick, William ran into fashion-god Valentino—as one does—who asked him to butler on his private yacht. This eventually led him to Los Angeles to open Bar Toscana.
Since 2010, William has offered a whole gamut of Negroni variations at Toscana, including a Negroni Sbagliato with sparkling wine instead of gin and William’s favorite, the Americano, of red bitter liqueur, vermouth and soda. He’s also playing with a new whiskey version and yet another with espresso-infused bitters.
William Perbellini. Image courtesy of Bar Toscana.
According to William, since the recipe for a traditional Negroni is pretty straightforward, the big difference between Negronis the world over is … who’s making it. So, we tapped William for his little black book of Negroni superstar bartenders in Los Angeles (after himself of course) to celebrate Negroni week in Italiano-approved style! Saluti!
Officine Brera
DTLA
Bartender: Luigi Capasso
Luigi Capasso. Image courtesy of Officine Brera
No Name
Fairfax
Bartender: Mike Capoferri
Mike Capoferri. Image courtesy of @mfcapoferri
Melrose Umbrella Co.
Fairfax
Bartender: Dave Purcell
Dave Purcell. Image courtesy of @melroseumbrellaco
Copa d'Oro
Santa Monica
Bartender: Vincenzo Marinella
Vincenzo Marinella. Image courtesy of @copadoro217
Westlake Village Inn
Westlake
Bartender: Jacopo Falleni
Jacopo Falleni. Image courtesy of Jacopo Falleni
S.Y. Kitchen
Santa Ynez
Bartender: Alberto Battaglini
Alberto Battaglini. Image courtesy of Rocco Ceselin.
Where to Drink for a Good Cause in LA
Are you a Negroni nerd in search of the newest twist on the age-old cocktail? We’ve got you covered for the most creative Negronis in Los Angeles in honor of Negroni Week, organized from east to west LA:
The Factory Kitchen
DTLA Arts District, “Sfactory 1923”, $14
St.George Terroir Gin, Gran Classico and Carpana Antica
The Sfactory 1923. Image courtesy of The Factory Kitchen.
The Bellwether
Studio City, “Grapefruit Negroni”, $12
The Bellwether will be offering a Grapefruit Negroni that features house-infused grapefruit gin, Campari, and carpano antica. They will also have on hand their already beloved White Negroni, also $12. For either of these cocktails sold in Negroni Week, $2 will go to the Boxer Rescue of LA.
Sonny's Hideaway
Highland Park, “The Zirconia”, $12
Featuring KIN White Whiskey, Breckenridge Bitter and Dolin Blanc. It's a real clean sipper.
The Zirconia. Image courtesy of Sonny’s Hideaway.
Salt’s Cure
Hollywood, “The Negroni Bird”, $14
Bar Manager Joe Swiftka will be serving a play on a Jungle Bird and a Negroni with gin, Jamaican rum, Campari, Sweet Vermouth, pineapple and lime juice. The cocktail will benefit Meals on Wheels.
E.P. & L.P.
WeHo, “Putting on the Spritz”, $15
Bartender Adam Nystrom’s mix of Campari, Beefeater gin, Curaçao, Cocchi Rosa, Coconut Shrub, Grapefruit Oleo-Saccharum and CO2. Light, bright and effervescent, it's like a Negroni Soda. Served fully carbonated in its own bottle.
Putting on the Spritz. Image courtesy of Jesse Hsu
Westbound
DTLA Arts District, “Negroni”, $20
Westbound’s Italian classic drink includes a south of border take: the usual Campari and vermouth suspects alongside Altos Olmeca tequila. The tequila will be bourbon barrel-aged with botanicals like juniper, cassia bark, chamomile, a variety of citrus peels (lemon, orange, lime, and grapefruit) and coriander.
Hinoki & The Bird
Century City, “Hinoki Negroni”, $15
Developed by bartender Gregory Westcott, this Negroni features Duck Fat Sazerac Rye, Carpano Antica, Cherry Herring, Campari, and the restaurant’s signature Hinoki wood smoke garnish. “I've never met a negroni variation that I didn't like. The duck fat adds a palate rich, savory element that's highlighted by the vermouth and the fruity bitterness of the Campari,” says Gregory.
Gracias Madre
West Hollywood, “Mero Mero”, $14
Featuring mezcal, tequila reposado, artichoke & cherry liqueur, Italian sweet vermouth and orange bitters, bartender Jason Eisner says, "It's like a negroni, an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan had a ménage à trois and the Mero Mero was their love child."
Mero Mero. Image courtesy of Gracias Madre
Love & Salt
Manhattan Beach, “The Mistaken Negroni", Bottomless boozy brunch $18
With Campari, sweet vermouth and sparkling brut, The Mistaken Negroni (aka Negroni Sbagliato) will be featured as part of Love & Salt’s Brunch special Saturdays & Sundays from 10 – 3 pm with purchase of an entree ($15+).
Terranea Resort
Rancho Palos Verdes, ”Barrel-Aged Negroni”, “Scarselli”, “Amer Paloma”, $15
The Terranea Resort will have three Negroni variations for Negroni Week in their Lobby Bar. The Barrel-Aged Negroni is aged to mellow the strong flavors of a classic negroni and has Genever, Campari, Carpano Antica. The Scarselli combines gin, Galliano, pineapple juice, and prosecco and is served in a coupe garnished with lavender and lemon peel. The Amer Paloma blends Herradura Reposado Tequila, Manzanilla sherry, Suze and Giffard Pamplemousse. All negroni’s will benefit Algalita Marine Research Foundation
The Scarselli. Image courtesy of Terranea Resort.
Finally, if all those libations have made you a lil' woozy then you best eat something! How about a Negroni BBQ burger? It has a beef and wild mushroom patty, topped with kale, apple & bacon slaw, smoked gouda and all tied up with a Campari BBQ sauce. The Negroni Burger's available at all participating Umami Burger locations for $14 and during Negroni Week a portion of the sales will benefit The James Beard Foundation.
The Negroni Burger. Image courtesy of Umami Burger.
Belinda Gosbee is an Aussie writer, actress and coffee snob based in Los Angeles who believes that if you're going to support Negroni Week then why not also lather one's body in Negroni and show your real committment. Who knows, you may pick up an Italian. Follow her jaunts on twitter @belindagosbee or instagram @gos22
Header Image courtesy of Campari America
