Anyone a fan of the negroni cocktail?

[Anonymous]

These are allegedly currently popular (viral) with women, but it's quite strong (50-60 proof) and bitter, which doesn't seem like something that would have mass appeal with women. Tonight I had my first negroni at dinner (nice restaurant) and it tasted sort of like Robitussin cough syrup. Bourdain says 'summer beverage' but I disagree with that. To me, it tasted like a winter cocktail for a ski lodge with a fire nearby. Not something I'd drink regularly and certainly not summery, which I take to mean refreshing and crisp.

Am I missing something?

The negroni is a cocktail, made of equal parts gin, vermouth rosso, and Campari, generally served on the rocks, and commonly garnished with an orange slice or orange peel. It is considered an apéritif.

[Anonymous]

I am a man and I love it. I like bitter things and I find its astringency bracing. But I can definitely understand why people would not like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a man and I love it. I like bitter things and I find its astringency bracing. But I can definitely understand why people would not like it.

Can you explain when you drink them? You make them at home for random casual drinks... or more-so strictly after dinner or before dinner?

[Anonymous]

I’ve had them in restaurants and enjoyed them a lot. Made them at home, following a standard recipe, and found the bitterness overwhelming. I think a lot of people are putting a more modern twist on them and that makes them less oppressive.

[Anonymous]

I’m not a huge fan, but enjoy from time to time. Don’t do the traditional split of 1/3 1/3 1/3. Use a lot less Campari and you’ll like it better.

[Anonymous]

I’m a woman. Sometimes a negroni hits right when you want something powerful, bitter and sweet. Kind of like how sometimes you want that knot in your back pounded? Hurts so good!

I also think it really depends on the quality of the vermouth. It also really needs to have the orange peel or wedge garnish so the orange oil aroma is part of the sensory experience.

I don’t think it’s a summer drink - too stiff for the hear! May if I had Anthony Bourdain’s alcohol tolerance. It’s definitely fall/winter for me.

[Anonymous]

I love a Negroni over a ton of ice on a really hot summer day.

Swap gin for whiskey and make a boulvardier in winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a man and I love it. I like bitter things and I find its astringency bracing. But I can definitely understand why people would not like it.

Can you explain when you drink them? You make them at home for random casual drinks... or more-so strictly after dinner or before dinner?

Just one, before dinner occasionally, at cocktail hour. Either at home or when out.

[Anonymous]

I think they taste like really bad cough syrup. But DH loves them and we used to go to a super high end restaurant with a great bar, and within the bar they had a Negroni bar. That's how much people who love them love them.

It's probably as with anything: people have different palates and tastes.

[Anonymous]

I love them, I love the bitterness. I drink mine before dinner. In the summer I like to add soda water and make it a spritz, but the original recipe is best.

- 50 yr old woman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love a Negroni over a ton of ice on a really hot summer day.

Swap gin for whiskey and make a boulvardier in winter.

I agree this is also very good. I also enjoyed the negroni sbagliato when it had its brief time in the sun.

[Anonymous]

^^^
He and his friends always have them before dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a woman. Sometimes a negroni hits right when you want something powerful, bitter and sweet. Kind of like how sometimes you want that knot in your back pounded? Hurts so good!

I also think it really depends on the quality of the vermouth. It also really needs to have the orange peel or wedge garnish so the orange oil aroma is part of the sensory experience.

I don’t think it’s a summer drink - too stiff for the hear! May if I had Anthony Bourdain’s alcohol tolerance. It’s definitely fall/winter for me.

I agree about the vermouth- that makes the biggest difference in a negroni bc so many people use cheap vermouth and don’t store it properly.

[Anonymous]

I'm a 46 y/o woman and discovered I loved them last year. I don't know what it is but I love the bitterness of them. I don't love sweet cocktails and can't stand the taste of brown so I typically have one when my husband is enjoying his old fashion (before or after dinner drink).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are allegedly currently popular (viral) with women, but it's quite strong (50-60 proof) and bitter, which doesn't seem like something that would have mass appeal with women. Tonight I had my first negroni at dinner (nice restaurant) and it tasted sort of like Robitussin cough syrup. Bourdain says 'summer beverage' but I disagree with that. To me, it tasted like a winter cocktail for a ski lodge with a fire nearby. Not something I'd drink regularly and certainly not summery, which I take to mean refreshing and crisp.

Am I missing something?

The negroni is a cocktail, made of equal parts gin, vermouth rosso, and Campari, generally served on the rocks, and commonly garnished with an orange slice or orange peel. It is considered an apéritif.

Bourdain has been dead for 6 years.