This September, find out where to throw back that incarnadine elixir—and do a little bit of good, too
Stunning in its simplicity, the Negroni has become not only a vessel for flavour, but also for charity as the iconic cocktail gets its own dedicated week once a year. For 2022, the bars are coming out in force again, shaking and stirring for the greater good. This year's edition (12-18 September, 2022) is especially significant as it falls on the 10th anniversary of Negroni Week—founded as it was in collaboration between Campari and Imbibe magazine in 2013—with all of this year's proceeds going to Slow Food's Negroni Week Fund.
Argo at the Four Seasons is pouring four variations on the Negroni from other Four Seasons locations around Asia. Available until the 24th, there's some thoroughly modern interpretations—the Mellow Amer Negroni (shochu rice gin, Amer Picon, peach liqueur, Campari) and the Single Origin Negroni (aged in a cacao husk)—among them.
For more Japanese-inspired takes, The Aubrey is serving The Peerless, crafted with a blend of Negroni Nikka Gin, balsamic vinegar, tawny port and Campari; while Darkside has introduced the Ume-Negroni, featuring chocolate Campari, Plantation dark rum, plum sake, Mancino Rosso vermouth, plum bitters, myrrh drops and garnished with Campari glittered dust.
At The Hari hotel, resident Italian restaurant Lucciola has debuted three new Negroni-inspired cocktails, all priced at HK$108. The Classic Hari Negroni is made with The Hari’s own-brand gin; the Taroccoroni lengthens the mix with with orange juice; and the Agaroni offers a more spirited drink with the addition of mezcal.
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Meanwhile, Ovolo Hotels debuts The Decadent Count, a Negroni twist with hints of an Espresso Martini, topped off with Campari-infused cacao nibs and available at Veda and Te Quiero Mucho in Hong Kong. And at Terrible Baby in Eaton Hotel, mixologist Axel Gonzalez has unveiled a quartet of Negroni riffs: in addition to the classic Negroni, there's the Terrible Negroni which splits the vermouth component between rosa and rosso; Fours Style Negroni features clay-ageing and notes of shiso; Tropic Thunder brings the heat with honey and passionfruit.
Central speakeasy 25:00 has also gone for the "more is more" approach. The Sicily Breeze paints an Italian portrait with flavours of tomato, basil, Amaro Montenegro and elderflower; The Gentleman reinvents the recipe with coffee bean-infused Havana 7 Years, Campari, Rosso Dark and a cacao cigar; while The Jobilee offers smoky, earthy and herbal flavours.
Fledgling hospitality group Singular Concepts is rolling out a whole month of Negroni-related activations from September 1 to 30 across its portfolio of venues, including Barcode, Bianco & Rosso, Tell Camellia and The Daily Tot (the latter bar's Negroni Week initiative in 2021 was the recipient of Tatler Dining's inaugural Impact Award). Women for Women International will continue to be the charity of choice this year, with HK$10 from each Negroni donated to the organisation. Pencil down September 21 on your calendar, when all four bars converge at Tell Camellia for a fundraising and drinking marathon. Bottoms up in the name of charity!
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