National Negroni Week, Sept. 18 to 24, means that bars and restaurants around the country will be celebrating the iconic cocktail while supporting Slow Food’s mission to foster a more equitable and sustainable world of food and beverage. Hospitality engagement platform Union has released a new OnPrem Insights report outlining some Negroni data from more than 1,000 high-volume bars and restaurants around the country.

 For starters, Negroni sales at Union venues are up 44% year-over-year, and more than half of all gin cocktails sold at Union bars and restaurants are Negronis. The average price of a Negroni is $14.06, up by $1 from the last year and significantly more expensive than the average cocktail, which is $12.50. 

While Negroni sales peak in the fall and winter holiday months, the cocktail sees consistent sales year-round. Nearly three quarters (71%) of Negronis are ordered by men at Union venues, and more than 16% of all Negronis are mezcal variations. 

With those updates on the Negroni in mind, here are some riffs on the classic that we’re loving for 2023.

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Blood Orange Vanilla Negroni

Course Drinks

Keyword gin, Luxardo bitter bianco, sweet vermouth

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Uncle Val’s Botanical gin
• ¾ oz. Sweet vermouth
• ¾ oz. Luxardo Bitter Bianco infused with blood orange and vanilla beans

Instructions

• Build gin, vermouth, bitter liqueur and vermouth in a cocktail mixing glass.
• Stir about 20 revolutions with a mixing spoon.
• Strain with a Hawthorne strainer over a large ice cube in a double Old Fashioned glass.
• Garnish with a slick of an orange peel and a piece of dried vanilla bean.

Notes

Luxardo Bianco Bitter infusion:
Slice rounds of 1 ½ blood oranges, split one vanilla bean and combine with 12 oz. of Luxardo Bianco Bitter in a sealed jar. Leave on the counter at room temp for 1 day, shaking the jar periodically. Then, place in refrigerator for 2 days with continued shaking. On the fourth day remove the fruit and vanilla bean and double strain.

The mixologists at Uncle Val’s created this recipe.

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Whitecap Negroni

Course Drinks

Keyword blanc vermouth, Luxardo bitter bianco, mezcal

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Cuentacuentos mezcal
• 1 oz. Dolin Blanc
• 1 oz. Luxardo Bitter Bianco

Instructions

• Combine ingredients and stir.
• Serve over a large rock.
• Garnish with an orange peel and its essence.

Notes

Allegro Angelo, wine partner/sommelier at Vinya Table in Coral Gables, FL, created this recipe.

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Oaxacan Negroni

Course Drinks

Keyword bitter liqueur, Carpano Antica vermouth, mezcal, Nixta corn liqueur

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Divino Tamarindo mezcal
• 1 oz. Sirene bitter liqueur
• ¾ oz. Vermouth di Radda
• ¼ oz. Nixta corn liqueur

Instructions

• Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass.
• Fill with ice cubes and stir 5-8 times.
• Pour over a nice, big cube.
• Garnish with a sprinkle of sal de gusano.

Notes

The mixologists at Paradisaea in San Diego, CA, created this recipe.

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Negroni Sibarita

Course Drinks

Keyword Aperol, Lillet Blanc, peach bitters, rum

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ oz. Brugal 1888 rum
• ⅓ oz. Aperol
• ⅓ oz. Lillet Blanc
• Dash peach bitters

Instructions

• Combine ingredients and stir.
• Strain into Old Fashioned glass over ice.
• Garnish with a grapefruit peel.

Notes

The mixologists at Brugal created this recipe.

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Tiki Negroni

Course Drinks

Keyword Campari, coconut rum, gentian amaro, rum

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Cutwater Bali Hai Pineapple Gold rum
• ½ oz. Don Q Coco rum
• ½ oz. Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro
• ½ oz. Campari

Instructions

• Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass.
• Fill with ice and stir.
• Pour over a large cube.
• Garnish with an orchid.

Notes

The mixologists at The Islander in Coronado, CA, created this recipe.

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Black Cat Negroni

Course Drinks

Keyword Cynar, Fernet Branca, gin, sweet vermouth

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Barr Hill Tom Cat gin
• 1 oz. Cynar
• 1 oz. Sweet vermouth
• 1 Bar Spoon Fernet Branca

Instructions

• Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.
• Stir until well chilled.
• Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
• Garnish with a lemon twist.

Notes

Sam Nelis, beverage director of Barr Hill Gin, created this recipe.

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Jabroni

Course Drinks

Keyword banana liqueur, Campari, sweet vermouth, tequila

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Teremana Blanco or Reposado tequila
• 1 oz. Campari
• ¾ oz. Sweet vermouth
• ¼ oz. Banana liqueur

Instructions

• Combine ingredients and stir with ice until chilled.
• Strain into a rocks glass.
• Garnish with dried banana chips.

Notes

The mixologists at Teremana created this recipe.