Il Negroni it is among the most famous Italian drinks, to the point of even boasting a film. Directed by Federico Micali, with the production of Art Film Kairos and Rai Cinema and with the support of Campari and the Toscana Film Commission, “Looking for Negroni”Starts from the book“ Negroni Cocktail. An Italian legend ”by Luca Picchi to tell what is Negroni. Who invented it, how it is prepared. And how did he become an icon.
“Looking for Negroni”, a film that tells the story of Italian excellence
Claudio Bigagli, one of the protagonists of the Oscar-winning film "Mediterraneo" by Gabriele Salvatores, is the main face of the film dedicated to the Negroni. Beside him, bartenders and mixing specialists. They are the ones who tell the recipe, the real one. And his digressions. Thus, it turns out that the Negroni was born in Florence (inside the Casoni grocery bar in via de 'Tornabuoni, between 1917 and 1919) but that it was not invented by a bartender. The credit goes instead to Count Negroni, who asked his favorite barman Fosco Scarselli to add the Americano (based on bitters, red vermouth and soda) with a little gin, in order to increase its alcohol content without compromising the bitter taste. Camillo Negroni, son of Count Enrico and Ada Savage Landor, grandson of the romantic poet Walter Savage Landor, was influenced in his request by travels around the world. Reason why the Negroni has an international flavor.
From here, from this all-Italian legend, “Looking for Negroni”. The film, which will soon arrive on Rai channels as well, was previewed in Florence at the La Compagnia cinema on 23 June. Why did Federico Micali choose to tell about the Negroni? Because his is one Florentine and international history. Just like the subjects of his films (starting with the film docufilm L'Universale d'Essai). And why, the legends about Count Negroni are many and surprising. Inextricably linked to the drink he invented.
The Negroni recipe
Sipping Negroni at the counter of a bar is an experience to do. But, if you want to replicate it at home, it is good to know the recipe in detail. So as not to make "unforgivable" mistakes. To prepare the Negroni you must have:
- Campari (3cl)
- Vermouth (3cl)
- gin (3cl)
The ingredients are placed in a glass in a low tumbler or in an old fashioned, filled with ice. Stir for about twenty seconds, garnish the glass with an orange slice, and here is the cocktail.
A variant of the Negroni is the wrong Negroni (which everyone just calls "Wrong"). Brut sparkling wine is used instead of gin, as Mirko Stocchetto of the Milanese Bar Basso did first. In the lesser known Negroski gin is replaced with vodka, in Bencini white rum is used while - in Old Pal - sweet vermouth is used and whiskey is used instead of gin.
Featured photo by Geoff Peters - CC BY 2.
