3 Variations on the Negroni

Like all good cocktail stories, the origin story of the Negroni is one of legend. Most accounts credit the recipe to Count Camillo Negroni, a freewheeling nobleman who, while drinking at Florence's Caffe Rivoire in 1919, decided the popular Americano—Campari, sweet vermouth and soda—just wasn't strong enough. Since then, it's gone on to become an iconic Italian aperitivo. A drink that saw a huge resurgence during the cocktail boom on the early aughts. Barman extraordinaire and author Gary Regan writes in his book, The Negroni, "it's one of the simplest and most elegant drink formulas around: combine one part gin, one part sweet vermouth, and one part Campari, then stir and serve over ice." So by now, we're all familiar with the negroni. And while it doesn't require improving, that doesn't mean there aren't tons of twists and riffs on the classic strong-bitter-sweet tipple. Herewith, three you should try at home.