Editor's Note: This story is unlocked for everyone to read courtesy of the CRVA, our partner in nourishing culinary exploration for residents and visitors of the Queen City.
September 14, 2023
Your guide to Negroni Week 2023
Annual event will raise funds for Slow Food, September 18-24
by TM Petaccia
The iconic Italian cocktail, the Negroni, is the inspiration for Campari and Imbibe Magazine’s Negroni Week, running September 18-14. Photo: Campari America
Next week, restaurants and bars from all over the Charlotte area will unite to pay tribute to one of the world’s most iconic cocktails while raising money for a more responsible, inclusive, and sustainable food system. Negroni Week 2023 will run from September 18-24.
At its core, a traditional Negroni is a simple cocktail combining equal parts of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, but it also serves as a template for numerous variations. Negroni Week is a collaboration between Campari and cocktail publication Imbibe. It celebrates the skills and creativity of bartenders as they execute the classic cocktail as well as develop a series of alternatives.
“The Negroni is consistently ranked as one of the best-selling drinks in the world,” says Campari America’s Head of Marketing Andrea Sengara. “The classic recipe — Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth — has been the starting point for countless Negroni variations. There’s a Negroni variation for everyone.”
In addition to celebrating the cocktail, Negroni Week also serves as a fundraiser. For the second year, Slow Food is the nonprofit recipient. The nonprofit looks for ways to support local efforts to rediscover the flavors of historic regional cooking by encouraging chefs to support local farmers, lobbying on food and farm policies, developing youth education programs, and other activities to preserve food cultures and overall biodiversity.
Since launching in 2013, Negroni Week has raised over $4 million for charities.
Throughout Negroni Week, unless otherwise stated, participating restaurants and bars will donate $1 per cocktail to Slow Food, or have made a donation to the nonprofit of at least $250. Check out these Charlotte-area spots celebrating Negroni Week:
Uptown
Angeline’s / Merchant & Trade
Bianco ($18): Truffle fat-washed Aviation gin, clarified tomato Campari, rosemary vermouth, Campari rosemary foam
Classic Negroni ($14): Beefeater gin, Campari, and Carpano Antica vermouth
Fiori ($16): Roku gin, lychee-infused Cappelletti, and Lillet Blanc
Sbagliato ($15): Prosecco, Cocchi Rosa vermouth, Campari, prosecco ice cube
(NA)groni ($11): A zero-proof Negroni, made with Ritual NA gin, Lyre’s Italian Spritz, and Blutul Non-Alcoholic Rosso vermouth
Fin & Fino
How About Them Apples? ($15): Appleton Estate rum, Cocchi Torino, coffee-infused Campari, Cream Sherry
Haymaker
Coffee Infused Boulevardier ($17): 1792 Bourbon, coffee-infused Campari, sweet vermouth
Sea Level
Barrel Aged Boulevardier ($17): Old Forester Bourbon, Cocchi Torino, Cappelletti – aged four weeks
Belmont Village
Super Abari Game Bar
Wake Up Call Negroni ($12): Aviation gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, coffee-infused Fernet Branca
Flashin Fruit Punch Negroni Slushie ($9): Aviation gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, Hi-C Fruit Punch, Grenadine (frozen cocktail)
Dilworth
Dilworth Tasting Room / Dilworth
Negroni ($15): Aviation Gin, Campari, Vermouth di Torino
Boulevardier ($15): Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, Campari, Vermouth di Torino
Sbagliato ($15): Prosecco, Campari, Vermouth di Torino
Midtown
Dressler’s
White Tea Negroni ($15): Roku gin, chamomile-infused Flower Girl vermouth, Cocchi Americano
Mama Ricotta’s
Boulevardier ($15): Knob Creek Rye, Campari, sweet vermouth, orange twist
Montford Park
Dot Dot Dot – donating $1 per cocktail to Slow Food, plus $2 to No Kid Hungry
Neo-Classic Mezcal Negroni ($17): Del Maguey San Jose Rio Minas mezcal, DDD house-blended vermouth, Campari
NoDa
The Artisan’s Palate
Classic Negroni ($14): Aviation gin, Campari, Carpano Antica
Amber Negroni ($15): Aviation gin, Campari, Lillet Blanc
Montenegroni ($15): Botanist gin, Montenegro, Aperol
Cardamaroni ($15): Aviation gin, Cardamaro, Carpano Antica
Pisco Negroni ($15): Caravedo pisco, Lillet Blanc, Carpano Antica
Ever Andalo – presenting a timeline of the evolution of the Negroni
Early 1860s – Milano-Torino ($13): Campari, vermouth blend, salt tincture, orange slices
Late 1860s – Americano ($13): Campari, vermouth blend, salt tincture, soda water, orange slices
1919 – Negroni ($14): Sutler’s gin, vermouth blend, Campari, orange peel
1927 – Boulevardier ($15): Rye whiskey, Campari, vermouth blend, orange peel
2001 – White Negroni ($16): Sutler’s gin, Cocchi Americano, Cinque Aperitivo Bianco, grapefruit peel
The Goodyear House
Bob Peters adds a Campari citrus foam to his Negroni at NoDa’s The Goodyear House. Photo courtesy
The Goodyear Negroni ($16): 704 gin, Dolin Blanc vermouth, Campari citrus foam
Haberdish
Negroni ($15): Ford’s gin, Campari, sweet vermouth
Boulevardier ($17): Noble Oak rye, Campari, sweet vermouth
Optimist Park
Billy Sunday
Charlotte Negroni ($12) – Aviation gin, Campari, strawberry-infused Cappelletti, Bonal, banana liqueur
Spindle Bar
Negroni ($12) – Aviation gin, cap corse rouge, Campari, fresh orange juice
Plaza Midwood
Humbug
Humbug Negroni ($14): Tanqueray gin, Campari, house-blended sweet vermouth, aged balsamic vinegar
Nectarine Negroni ($14): Tanqueray gin, nectarine-infused Campari, house-blended sweet vermouth
Supperland
4G Negroni ($14, vegan) – Olive oil washed four-gin blend (Ford’s, Sipsmith, Sutler’s, and Botanist), Campari, sweet vermouth, sherry
South End
Elsewhere Cocktail Bar
Classic Negroni ($9): Beefeater London Dry Gin, Campari, house sweet vermouth blend
Negroni Royale ($17): Bluecoat American Dry Gin, Campari, house sweet vermouth blend with added clove, allspice, and black peppercorn
Negroni Sbagliato Raffinato ($11): Miller High Life, Campari, house sweet vermouth blend
Negroni du Bresil ($13): Novo Fogo Silver Cachaça, coffee-infused Campari, house sweet vermouth blend
The Vintage Whiskey & Cigar Bar
Claro-Fixation ($16): Aviation gin, Montenegro, Campari, Lillet Rose – clarified
South Park
Bar One Lounge
White Negroni ($15): Hendricks Gin, Lillet Blanc, dry vermouth
Bar One Left Hand ($15): Bourbon, Campari, sweet vermouth, chocolate bitters
Bulla Gastrobar
Spanish Negroni ($15): Gin, Campari, Lustau sweet vermouth, caramelized orange wheel.
Bianco Negroni ($16): Gin, Campari, Cinzano bianco vermouth, caramelized orange wheel.
Dilworth Tasting Room / South Park
Negroni ($15): Aviation Gin, Campari, Vermouth di Torino
Boulevardier ($15): Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon, Campari, Vermouth di Torino
Sbagliato ($15): Prosecco, Campari, Vermouth di Torino
Little Mama’s
Notorious F.I.G. ($16): Fig Infused Negroni – Sipsmith Gin, Campari, fig-infused vermouth, dried fig garnish
Waverly
The Porter’s House
Sherry’s House ($15): Bourbon, Oloroso sherry, Mancino Chinato, Campari
Wilmore
Amanda Britton’s Negroni and Negroni-inspired cocktails will be available at Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails. Photo: Katey Sheehan
Lincoln Street Kitchen & Cocktails
Classic Negroni ($14): Aviation gin, Campari, sweet vermouth
Mama Mia ($14): Tanqueray Sevilla gin, Campari, Licor 43, pineapple
The Green Room @ Lincoln Street
Friday, 9/21 and Saturday, 9/22 only – private lounge. $10 entry fee gets you a swag bag, a welcome complementary punch from the Negroni fountain, and a Negroni-inspired dessert.
Watermelon Shakerato ($16): Campari, watermelon, orange blossom, saline
Americana ($17): Campari, strawberry-infused Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, cream soda
Cafe Olé ($18): Cristalino tequila, coffee liqueur, Campari, sweet vermouth
Vinyl
Handmade ($15): Cinnamon and allspice infused Cardinal Gin, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Campari – finished with brown sugar, grapefruit and orange peel
B-Side Negroni ($15): Bluecoat Barrel-Finished gin, Punt e Mes, Campari
Outside Charlotte
Kindred, Davidson – donating $2 per cocktail
Classic Negroni ($17): Gin, Campari, Carpano Antica Formula
Le Toucan ($17): Mezcal, Plantation pineapple rum, Campari, lime, agave, Angostura bitters
The Adornista ($17): Campari, Lambrusco Rosso, demerara syrup, orange bitters
Thigs Cocktail Bar, Cornelius
Negroni Boulevardier ($12): Southern Star Double Rye, Campari, Cynar/Vermouth blend
Orchard Negroni ($12): Hendricks Flora Adora, Campari, Calvados, Yellow Chartreuse
Smoke Negroni ($12): Banhez mezcal, Campari, coffee liqueur, Amaretto
