In Search Of The Best Negroni

The Negroni had its moment in the sun recently on account of a viral video featuring House of The Dragon stars Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke. But this writer has been a fan of the drink for much longer

- Yamini Reddy

A classic Negroni should be easy to make because it's equal parts gin, vermouth and Campari, garnished with an orange peel. But it is more challenging than you think. You'd be surprised by how many bad ones I've had. They either have too much Campari - making it very bitter too much vermouth or the wrong brand (I prefer the Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth) and you will end up with a very strong licorice taste, of which I'm not a fan.

If a Negroni lacks the right amount of gin, the balance is lost. Not adding orange zest at the end practically destroys the Italian cocktail. The garnish lifts the orange notes of the Vermouth Rosso, which gives it that freshness on the nose and palate.

And lastly, I can't emphasise this enough: adding chipped ice does grave injustice to a Negroni. Ice dilutes and destroys this indulgence of a cocktail. So, absolutely no ice. The clearer, the better.

With all these stringent, self-imposed preconditions, it is not surprising that I have found very few places across the country that serve a good Negroni. Luckily, I have a job which involves a fair bit of travel and every opportunity I get, I make it a point to passionately seek out bars in the city for my favourite cocktail. Here are a few that made the grade:

BENGALURU

My favourite Negroni in Bengaluru is at Kaze, located at the corner of Lavelle Road on the 21st floor of a skyscraper, from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, its highrises, gardens, Sri Kanteerava Stadium and the Bengaluru Club. Kaze is a great place to watch the sun go down while sipping on a good cocktail. They use the classic recipe to make Negronis, but what makes them stand out is the perfect balance they are able to achieve between the three main ingredients every time.