Cocktails have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the past few years and the classic Negroni is one that has been enjoying the spotlight recently. Marco Polo Ortigas’ Vu’s Bar takes the classic and updates it to appeal to a broader audience. By playing with the proportions, ingredients, and serving methods, the establishment has created 6 cocktails which will be available in celebration of Negroni Week which will run from September 18 to 24 this year.
The Negroni can be an intimidating drink, especially for first timers. Classically composed of equal parts vermouth, Aperol, and gin, the drink has a high alcohol content and bold flavors. The Errata was created to allow newbies to experience the flavor notes in a more approachable manner. It combines Aperol, Fernet Branca, and Prosecco for a refreshing cocktail that is bitter-sweet and complex.
For those who prefer their cocktails with a punch, the Aggiuntivo Secco is the Negroni of choice. Meaning “extra dry” in Italian, this version of the Negroni combines Arc Gin with Campari and Mancino Secco, a dry vermouth instead of the sweet vermouth used in the classic recipe. The result is an herbaceous cocktail with a more upfront bitter note from the dry vermouth and the Campari.
For those who might not like the juniper-forward and herbal notes of gin, there is the Mandarino. This cocktail eschews the gin in favor of a Madarin vodka to recreate the classic orange note found in the Negroni. The less complex flavors and the lack of herbal notes found in the classic recipe makes the Mandarino more approachable as well.
The Scented Negroni goes the opposite direction, doubling down on the herbal notes found in Campari and Gin. Drawing inspiration from the Perfect Martini recipe, the Scented Negroni combined sweet and dry vermouth to balance out the drink while the addition of a torched rosemary spring upon service perfumes the drink with an earthy note.
Tequila lovers can still enjoy a Negroni-inspired cocktail with the Silver Negroni. Instead of standard negroni which is a stirred cocktail, the Silver Negroni is shaken to dilute and aerate the drink, creating a different texture. The use of Mancino Bianco, a white vermouth with a floral flavor profile complements the flavor notes of the tequila.
Meanwhile, the Berry Negroni is perfect for those who have a sweet tooth. The Campari is replaced with Crí¨me de Cassis, a sweet liqueur made from blackcurrants, removing the bitter and herbal components found in the classic Negroni.
The Negroni is enjoying its renaissance today but sticking only to the classic recipe is antithetical to how the drink was first created. By creating different takes on the cocktail using different ingredients but still paying respect to the original concept, Vu’s Bar hopes to show that there is a Negroni for everyone.
The bar will also be hosting a Negroni-making class in partnership with Arc Gin where participants will be taught the history of the cocktail as well as try their hand at making one, as well as a few variations.
