Negroni Week June 5-11 Raising Money for a Good Cause

June 2, 2017 – Next week could be called Guilt-free Negroni Week because for every Negroni ordered at participating bars or restaurants. donations are made to worthwhile causes around the world.  Negroni Week launched in 2013 as a celebration of one of the world’s great cocktails and as an effort to raise money for charities around the world. From 2013 to 2016, Negroni Week grew from about 100 participating venues to 6,000 venues globally, and to date, they have collectively raised nearly $900,000 for charitable causes.

Before we get into the details of next week’s activities, what exactly is a Negroni and where did it come from? It’s a drink with three ingredients Campari/Gin/Vermouth.  Of course creative mixologists always riff on a classic so there could be any number of additions and twists such as the recipe below for a FroGroni. But if you like basics it couldn’t be simpler.  As for its history, according to Wikipedia, in 1919 in Florence, Italy, “Count Camillo Negroni concocted it by asking the bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by adding gin rather than the normal soda water. The bartender also added an orange garnish rather than the typical lemon garnish of the Americano to signify that it was a different drink.”  However, another branch of the Negroni family claims their ancestor invented it around 1914 in Senegal.

There’s a lot going on so a good place to start is at https://negroniweek.com/  Venues can sign up here, consumers can find a venue in their area and check out  charity partners;  there’s a recipe tab and a place to shop for really cool stuff with a percentage of sales going to charity. 

Once again Campari and Imbibe Magazine are teaming up for the fifth annual Negroni Week.  Campari will be donating $10,000 to the US charity that receives the top donation amount, and $1,500 to each US charity participating in Negroni Week.

Taking the initiative beyond the bar and into the marketplace, a portion of proceeds from the sales of nationally available items such as a Campari-branded red bicycle from PUBLIC, a Negroni-red Baggu tote, and fire red-tinted sunglasses from Sunski, among other items, will be donated to charity. National partner Lyft will also offer coupon codes to new users to help riders safely get around during Negroni Week, as well as provide unique coupon codes to each venue that participates in Negroni Week to share with their customers. The top three venues with the most redemption codes will receive an additional donation to their designated charity on behalf of Lyft.

Also this year, Campari is teaming up with both the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild (USBG), as well as SHARE – a nationwide community that offers support to women diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancers – via SHARE’s partnership with Speed Rack, the all-female speed bartending competition benefitting breast cancer research, education and prevention. Multi-city events will be held with both the USBG and SHARE/Speed Rack to raise money for each charitable cause.

Here’s the recipe for a classic Negroni followed by a different take from well-known mixologist Julie Reiner.  Her recipe is definitely one to add to a summer cocktail repertoire.

Negroni

Created in 1919 in Florence, per the request of Count Camillo Negroni

1 oz. Campari
1 oz. Cinzano 1757
1 oz. Bulldog Gin

Method: Pour ingredients over ice into a shaker. Stir and strain in a chilled rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

#FroGroni

Created by Julie Reiner, and available during Negroni Week at Clover Club (NYC)

0.75 oz. Campari
2 oz. Bulldog Gin
0.75 oz. Cinzano 1757
2 oz. Lemon Juice
1.25 oz. Simple Syrup
2 whole Strawberries 

Blend all ingredients (making sure tops of strawberries are cut off) with 1.5 cups of ice until smooth and pour into a tall glass. Garnish with a strawberry and orange twist.

Stay up-to-date on all Negroni Week news by following @CampariUS and @Imbibe on Facebook, @CampariUSA and @Imbibe on Instagram, @Campari and @Imbibe on Twitter, and engaging with the #NegroniWeek hashtag.