It's a classic cocktail that's being celebrated this month with modern recipes and events at bars across the country.
In its classic guise, the Negroni, which is equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth is the patron saint of the aperitivo: simultaneously bitter and sweet, powerful and refreshing.
According to drinks writer Iain Meldrum, writing for The Scotsman, this classic cocktail's origins are somewhat murky – though, as origin stories go, the Negroni’s is as compelling, contentious and as varied as that of any comic book superhero.
One of the few details not up for debate is that it was named after someone bearing the moniker Negroni.
Whether he was an Italian Count recently back from his adventures in America (where he may or may not have variously been a rodeo rider, a banker or even a Count) or a Corsican General (who may also have been a Count) posted to Senegal in the middle of the 19 th century is quite fiercely contested, at least by those with a claim to the name.
The fact that there is no mention of the drink prior to the 1950s only muddies the water further.
And, like any classic cocktail, the Negroni has several close cousins that vary in the addition, subtraction or substitution of just a single ingredient.
A celebration of the classic cocktail. Negroni week takes place in September. This year it's 16-22 September, and will see bars across the country serving up the drink.
In Scotland you can sip on this apéritif in cocktail bars, including Absent Ear in Glasgow, Panda and Sons and Bramble in Edinburgh and the American Bar at Gleneagles.
On Saturday, 21 September, Glasgow restaurant Celentano's and The Gate cocktail bar are inviting guests to enjoy a curated Italian snack menu that pairs perfectly with a special Negroni cocktail selection, designed to showcase the versatility of the iconic drink.
The Celentano’s and Campari takeover of the award-winning east end cocktail bar will include: dishes such as Lasagna Fritti - moreish lasagne bites with porcini mushrooms and Corra Linn cheese; Crispy Pig’s Head, rich and crispy delight served with mustard and American pickles and savoury Smoked Cod Doughnuts with tangy kimchi.
There will also be The Gate's famous toasties, made with chicken liver mousse and mushroom, alongside Fermented Potato Flatbread with ricotta cheese and salsa verde.
Guests to this exclusive one day event can choose to order the full snack menu priced at £33 or select individual dishes to enjoy.
As well as the food menu, The Gate’s cocktail experts have crafted a special Negroni menu featuring innovative serves with Lind & Lime Gin, with each drink priced at £10.
A Negroni, classic or with a modern twist such as the addition of whisky or rum, are easy to make as there's few ingredients and no nee for a cocktail shaker.
You'll need equal parts gin, vermouth and Campari, which are poured into a rocks glass with ice, and stirred down to mix. A garnish of orange peel completes the drink.
If you want to enhance the texture, use sushi rice to stir the drink down (and discard). Find out more about this here, or listen to Gleneagles head of bar discuss this, other cocktail trends and their autumn menu.
