Negroni Week 2022 comes with 10 Refined Negroni Riffs to mark its 10th anniversary in Singapore
To many, the Negroni is one of the most iconic drinks to have graced the bar industry, regularly mentioned in the same breath as titans such as the Old Fashioned and Martini. Fittingly, we celebrate the tipple every year with a lively affair, the Negroni Week, which returns for its 10th instalment in 2022.
All imbibers would have had at least a fleeting counter with the time-honoured trinity of Campari, Sweet Vermouth, and Gin — sometimes dogmatically prepared with equal parts of the triad, sometimes with a more potent spin.
Being as celebrated as it is, it’s no wonder that craft cocktail bars all around Singapore unhesitantly jumped aboard for this year’s Negroni Week — prepare to be indulged by creative Negroni spins at over 60 bars in Singapore from 12th Sep 2022 to 19th Sep 2022.
This 2022 run of Negroni Week has also specially invited bartenders from ten of the best bars in Singapore to present their own unique interpretation of the concoction, to mark its 10th anniversary.
I was fortunately invited for a sneak preview of a few of the drinks for a splendorous soiree at The Bar at 15 Stamford, sharply decked in Campari reds and fronted by bigger-than-life brand ambassador Dave Jony.
Diverse Interpretations
Undoubtedly, such an event has to be led by a proper opening — a by-the-books Negroni made by Campari’s brand ambassador himself to loosen up a bit with doses of hard-hitting bitterness and elegant citrus.
The first Negroni Week special of the night came from the hosts themselves, The Bar at 15 Stamford, charmingly named The One That Got Away.
As the name suggests, bartender Timothy’s spin leans heavily on the flowery and bitter aspects of romance and the ingredients reflect that. There’s that bright floral pop of Chrysanthemum-infused Vermouth that blended cleanly into the gin botanicals before the hard-hitting bitters and Campari creep in.
Our strong start is then followed by a bewilderingly exotic Negroni alter ego that lends heavily from the Phillipino culture familiar to Mel, the Smoke & Mirrors‘ assistant manager.
Unlike the other Negroni Week permutations —or any Negroni spin, in general— they have you on a wild ride aboard the Negroni Express. Creatively reimagining the aperitif cocktail, it’s infused with a malty jasmine rice syrup fragrance which gently accentuated the Campari’s herbaceous notes.
What gave it that extra pep was the ingenious touch of chilli liqueur that injected a distinctive but harmonious heat. While esoteric, the flavours muddled together exceptionally well after a nibble of the pickle at the side. This is a well-balanced savoury Negroni that will excite adventurous palates.
Sweet Negroni Memories
Whereas we started off strong and boisterous, the latter part of the Negroni Week preview presented a more easily enjoyable side of the drink as the Mead by Men by O/T Bar came swooping in.
Accessibility is a balancing act for cocktails. As much as Negronis are beamed upon by those craving spirit-forward drinks, bartender Max softened it considerably with sparkling mead and applejack to make it sweeter and more rounded. Not really for me, but maybe for thee.
Closing off the Negroni Week preview was Southbridge‘s Rosmarino Negroni, featuring a spade of aromatic herbs and florals as buttresses to the gin botanicals. A good whiff of rosemary smoke, a tinge of tartness, and a kiss of Campari bitterness and you’ve got yourself an easy-to-drink nightcap.
And with the satisfying lineup of unique creations on show, I sauntered out of the Negroni Week preview rather joyfully. Negroni is love Negron is life — please don’t miss out on these fascinating tipples.
Find out more about what’s lined up for Negroni Week 2022 and its 10th anniversary here.
*This was an invited tasting.