There’s still time to celebrate Negroni Week, cocktail aficionados, which wraps up on June 7. Negroni Week isn’t just an excuse to drink: it’s a global charity program. So we recommend dropping into any Hakkasan restaurant location worldwide — in San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami, London, Duba, Doha, Shanghai, Mumbai and more – because they’re each raising glasses to raise $1 per drink to donate to local food charities. If you’re in L.A. and are feeling charitable, order the Smoky Negroni at Hakkasan Beverly Hills. Their unique concoction is one of the most beautiful craft cocktails in Los Angeles, reimagining the classic with a smoke infusion. And as long as you’re doing a good deed you might as well do two by ordering another round.
For the home bartender, here are a few of our favorite recipes to taste-test, courtesy of Hakkasan Beverly Hills, Dirty Habit craft cocktail bar in San Francisco, and the master distillers of key Negroni ingredients, namely Campari, No. 3 London Dry Gin, Junipero Gin, and Tempus Fugit vermouth. Cheers.
HAKKASAN SMOKY NEGRONI
1 oz. of Rusty Blade aged gin
1 oz. Antica Formula sweet vermouth
1 oz. Campari
Grand Marnier smoke infusion (created from woodchips soaked in Grand Marnier)
Orange zest garnish
DIRTY HABIT NEGRONI
1 oz No.3 London Dry Gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth
Garnish
Orange Slice
Build the cocktail in a mixing glass. Stir for about 15 seconds and then strain over ice into an old fashioned glass.
NO. 3 NEGRONI
1 oz No.3 London Dry Gin
1 oz Maurin Red Vermouth
1 oz Luxardo Bitter
1 Lemon
1 Orange
Mix all the liquid contents together in a heavy-bottomed tumbler with ice. Stir. Add a slice of orange and lemon zest to decorate.
GRAND CLASSICO NEGRONI
Tempus Fugit Gran Classico Bitter
.75 oz No.3 London Dry Gin
.75 oz Tempus Fugit Alessio Vermouth di Torino Rosso
1 Orange
Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
DEVILED NEGRONI
1 oz Junipero Gin
1 oz Maurin Quina
1 oz Luxardo Bitter
Lemon Peel
Stir all three ingredients continuously in an ice-filled glass, approximately 20 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass with one large ice cube.
