Yes it's true. The person who has become popular for making Negroni Cocktails, more than anyone else in the history of mankind, does not even know how to make a proper Negroni. This is scariligous, and shows once again, how people jump on the Band Wagon, so to speak.
I was horrified when I was looking in Tucci's latest book TASTE "My Life Through Food"and saw his recipe for the Negroni. In his recipe and instruction, Tucci cals for 50 milliliters of Gin, 25 millileters Campari, and 25 milliliters Sweet Vermouth with a slice of Orange. "oh my God, I can't beleive it, totally wrong Stanley. The proportions are totally wrong and would make a "Horrible Negroni, and one I'd never ever want to drink." and I've been drinking these bad boys Since 1985, a good 25 years before the Negroni Craze reached the American Shores.
How can you do it Stanley? Everyone who knows anything about a Negroni knows that you use equal parts of Campari, Gin, and Sweet Vermouth, and not and never ever twice as much Gin as Campari, you complete destroy the taste, by completely throwing the cocktail out of balance, a primary prerequisite to any good cocktail. How can you do it Stanley. Futhermore, it is beyond me that the press and general public have practicallymade Tucci the King of The Negroni, and the man doesn't know how to make one. This is horrifying ! Really Stanley? How can you do it.
I've written extensively about the Negroni (in La Tavola), a good 10 years before the Negroni Craze even started. And as I've stated, I've been drinking these wonderful cocktails since the Summer of 1985, on my first trip to Italy. My first Negroni? I remember it well. It was at the Caffe Giacosa (formerly Caffe Cassoni), in FLorence. I went in and sat down. The waiter brought me a menu. I already knew what I wanted, as I had read of the Negroni in an Italian travel guide. I knew it was invented here, and that's what I was going to get. So when the waiter came back, I said, " Un Negroni pro favore." The waiter nodded and, replied, "Prego." A few minutes later he brought me my Negroni, with a few cocktail treats that they serve with cocktails in Italy. I took a sip. Yum, that's pretty good I thought. That was the first. The first of many hundreds to come. Way back then, very few Americans drank Negroni's. There were a few. The well traveled, but nothing like today. It really doesn't make me that happy that everyone and their grandmother drinks them these days. It sort of takes away from their specialness a bit. But what are you going to do" That's the way it is. They're still tasty and refreshing to me. Tasty and refreshing? Well yes. Just don't have Stanely Tucci make one for me. "Yuuk! Not very good. Not a Negrone (the way Stanely makes them).
Sorry Stanley, but you got it all wrong.
... Daniel Bellino "Z" ....
HOW to MAKE a PROPER NEGRONI
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce Sweet Vermouth
1 ounce Gin
ICE
1 fresh slice of Orange
Preparation :
Fill a rock glass with ice.
Add the Campari, Sweet Vermouth, and Gin.
Stir.
Add a slice of Orange, and serve.
NOTE : You can change the proportions a little. Just don't change them up too much, or you will throw the cocktail out of balance, and it will not taste like a Negroni, defeating the whole purpose of making the drink, as is the case with Mr. Tucci's recipe. "It's all wrong. Way too much Gin."
If you wanted to stick around the prescribe recipe of equal parts of Campari, Sweet Vermouth, and Gin, to make a proper Negroni, you can put in just a little less Gin, but not too much less, or you'll change the make-up too much.
Also, it is very acceptable to add a plash of Club Sod on top. Just not too much. Make sure it is just a small splash.
Bitters : Campari
Sweet Vermouth Brands : Cinzano, Marini & Rossi, Antica Carpano.
GIN : Any London Dry Gin. Most popular brands include : Beefeater, Bombay, Gordon's, Tanqueray, and Hendrick's.
Final Note : Negroni's can be made straight-up, or on the rocks, however, 95% of the time, they are served on the rocks.
NEGRONI
POSITANO The AMALFI COAST
COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE
