It's mid-April and we have been blessed with a few days of cooler weather here in the South. Now, I would typically have shared this recipe earlier, but I for one, didn't have any Vermouth Rosso (sweet vermouth). I don't know if stores have had a massive sale on this item or since a majority of people are working from home, they wanted a lighter cocktail that can be sipped and enjoyed over a period of time. Whatever the reasoning, 3 weeks later, I finally have that coveted bottle back in my collection.
This Italian aperitif (a drink served before a meal) is an easy drink to whip together since the main recipe is 1 part gin, 1 part Campari, 1 part sweet vermouth. New comers however may find this drink unpalatable since Campari is a bitter liquor that takes sometime to acquire a taste for. For those individuals, I recommend cutting back on the amount of Campari by half and/or finishing the drink with a rather large splash of club soda.
"Her" cocktail is a "spritz" version of a Negroni. The story goes that an Italian bartender was in the middle of making a Negroni when he mistakingly(mistake = sbagliato in Italian) grabbed the brut sparkling wine instead of gin. Mistake or not, this make a lighter version of the original but just as tasty.
His Ingredients
1 oz Aviation Gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
Orange twist for garnish
Place ice into a chilled rocks glass. Add gin, campari and sweet vermouth and stir with cocktail spoon until chilled (top off with club soda if needed). Garnish with an orange twist and serve.
Her Ingredients - aka Negroni Sbagliato
1 oz Campari
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
Prosecco (or dry sparkling wine)
Orange twist for garnish
Place ice into a chilled rocks glass. Add the Campari and vermouth, stir with bar spoon to combine. Top with the prosecco. Garnish with an orange twist and serve.