The classic negroni is a classic for a reason. With equal parts gin, campari and sweet vermouth on ice with an orange peel, sipping it makes me feel like I’m zooming around the Italian coast on a Vespa in perfect 72-degree weather while shouting “ciao!” at passerbys (even if I happen to be in a dark Brooklyn bar on a cold night). The bitterness hits you first, and then you start to experience the sensual bed of sweetness, which is what fully transports you to a specific time and place. This week, June 5-11, more than a dozen local watering holes are participating in Negroni Week, in which specialty negronis are sold to benefit charities of the bar’s choosing. Here’s who’s participating in the ‘hood, and the negronis and specials they’ve got going.
No. 7 North | 931 Manhattan Ave.
Negroni: Negroni Sbagliato — Campari, Amaro CioCiaro & Prosecco
Charity: Refugee Canteen
Northern Territory | 12 Franklin St.
Charity: Water for People
Lo-Res Bar (@ Nitehawk) | 136 Metropolitan Ave.
Negroni: Greenhook Gin (a Brooklyn distillery), Campari and Cinzano, $8
Charity: Water for People
Union Pool | 484 Union Ave.
Negroni: House Negroni — Greenhook Gin, Carpano Antica Vermouth, Campari
Charity: City Harvest
The Starlight | 596 Grand St.
Negroni: Frozen Negroni — Citidel gin, Campari, and Dolan vermouth
Charity: Inspire Artistic Minds
Lilia | 567 Union Ave.
Negroni: Negroni di Lilia — Old Raj Gin, Carpano Antica, and Campari.
Charity: No Kid Hungry
Fresh Kills | 161 Grand St.
Charity: Arbor Day Foundation
One Bedford | 1 Bedford Ave.
Negroni: Meyer Lemon Negroni; Frozen Negroni (made from a frozen slushie machine); Buy 1 Negroni, get 1 free
Charity: City Harvest
Marlow & Sons | 81 Broadway
Negroni: Classic negroni — Campari, Letherbee gin and Dolin Rouge vermouth.
Charity: No Kid Hungry
Dram | 177 S 4th St.
Charity: Mercy Corps
The Shanty | 79 Richardson St.
Negroni: Blonde Redhead — Whole Egg, 3 Drops Orange Flower Water, 1/4 simple, 1/2 cream, 1/2 Meletti, 1/2 Dorothy Parker Gin, 1 1/2 Campari, Dry Shake, Shake, Double Rocks glass with no ice
Charity: Slow Food International
Post Office Bar | 188 Havemeyer St.
Negroni: Boulevardier — bourbon, Campari, house sweet vermouth; Skup’s Cup (Paper Plane variation) —bourbon, J-Wray rum-strawberry reduction, cynar, fresh lemon juice, angostura bitters
Charity: Paws
Huckleberry Bar | 588 Grand St.
Negroni: Summer Negroni — Brooklyn Gin, Aperol, Cocchi Rosa and Grapefruit Twist
Charity: No Kid Hungry
Blind Barber | 524 Lorimer St.
Charity: City Harvest
Odd Fellows Ice Cream Co. | 175 Kent Ave.
Negroni: Negroni Ice Pop
Charity: City Harvest
Belle Shoals | 10 Hope St.
Negroni: Red Eye Negroni — Old Tom Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, coffee liqueur
Charity: Helen David Relief Fund
Donna Cocktail Club | 27 Broadway
Negroni: Jungle Blizz-ird (Frozen Slushy) — Cruzan Blackstrap Rum, J. Wray Special Gold, Campari, Pineapple, Lime, Cinnamon
Charity: No Kid Hungry