NEGRONI

NEGRONI

1 measure Campari

1 measure gin

1 measure club soda

Orange

After being blown away by a performance by Trombone Shorty & the Orleans Ave., Hubby and I went in search of “just one more drink,” before facing the realities at home. We wandered into a place called Bricco, right across from the Playhouse in downtown Cleveland where Shorty had rocked the roof off the place, and I asked the bartender to make me a cocktail of his choosing.

He went with a NEGRONI cocktail and made it by putting Campari, gin and club soda into a cocktail glass with ice, giving it a stir, then squeezing in the juice from an orange and using a slice for the garnish. He said I had to try Campari if I never had (I haven’t.) He said that the Italian Spirit, which is made with an infusion of herbs and fruits, is popular among Italians. They drink it in between their heavy meals because it helps to settle the stomach.

While I found the NEGRONI to be very interesting tasting and I’m glad I was pushed to try Campari, I can’t say I’ve become a fan. The cocktail wasn’t fruity and it wasn’t sour. It was herby and had the taste of a digestive aid. Hubby thought it tasted like potpourri. And while potpourri in music — like the funk, blues, rock, and jazz sound of Trombone Shorty — is awesome, potpourri in a drink is not.

Drink Up^

Cocktail Connie