What’s shakin, cocktail fans?
Welcome to Episode 181 of The Modern Bar Cart Podcast!
This time around, it’s our great pleasure to welcome back two of our favorite gin writers and educators, David T. Smith (@summerfruitcup), and Keli Rivers (@allofthedrinks). Just a few weeks ago, Keli was awarded Gin Magazine’s Brand Ambassador of the Year award for her work with Sipsmith Gin, and David was inducted into the Gin Magazine Hall of Fame, so it’s a big deal to have them both join us to talk about their co-written book that chronicles one of the most iconic gin cocktails of all time: the Negroni.
“Cool,” you must be thinking, one page book. Equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Stirred. Orange twist. Boom, I’m outa here…
Well, it’s not quite that simple. Not only is there variation within the Negroni cocktail family, it has also spawned imaginative spin-off cocktails that use different spirits, vermouths, and aperitivi that either stay true to the “equal parts” tradition or strike out on their own path to mixological balance.
In this bitter and botanical deep dive with Keli Rivers and David T. Smith, some of the topics we discuss include:
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The various origin stories of the Negroni – both the conventional story about count Camillo Negroni, and also some stunningly international accounts that cast doubt on when and where this cocktail was truly invented, and by whom.
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What it’s like to assemble a cocktail book during a pandemic, and why Negroni turned out to be a timely tool for home bartenders affected by lockdowns and a lack of bars.
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The three primary buckets that all Negronis can fall into: perfect ratio through formulation, perfect ratio through balance, and perfect ratio out the window.
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Some of the more exotic or avant-garde Negroni recipes in the book, including Tiki Negronis, creamy Negronis, and even a Negroni served hot.
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We learn the story behind Keli’s tattoo, the importance of having a bottled Negroni in the fridge at all times, the virtues of gin and cola, and much, much more