The Blackberry Negroni

The Blackberry Negroni is a fantastic twist on the classic cocktail I adore. It is that time of the year again for Negroni Week. This charity event is a great way to showcase a classic cocktail that is still perfect more than 100 years after its creation. Over the years, I have written several posts on this perfectly balanced and easy cocktail and a new post for the local paper here in Colorado. But I decided to add a fresh twist that would still keep the balance of spirits of the original cocktail, but with a slight twist. It is simple, really. I muddled a few blackberries before adding the same equal portions of the original negroni recipe, gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.

The muddled blackberries add a subtle extra flavor without changing the original proportions. I have seen adding a blackberry syrup or changing the amounts of liquor to add blackberry liquor. But to me, that is no longer a negroni. This version keeps that balanced, delicious flavor of the classic Negroni with just a subtle difference, still on the refreshing bitter side of the cocktail world. You don’t need to buy extra liqueurs or unique ingredients other than a few blackberries.

The makers of Campari and Imbibe Magazine organize a charity event to help fund Slow Food. Slow Food is a global movement of local communities and activists across more than 160 countries seeking to change the world through food and beverage. The goal is to help give access to quality food in countries in need and to help change the world in both food awareness and environmentally friendly policies. You can check out more about this at the Negroni week’s website. Every September, Bars and restaurants worldwide participate in this great cause by making tasty Negronis, and the proceeds go to Slow Food. This year Negroni Week is September 12 – 18. Negroni week has raised over 3 million dollars so far.

This version of Negroni starts with muddled blackberries. Then, just as in the classic Negroni, there are equal parts of Gin, Campari, and Sweet Vermouth that are stirred together in a cocktail pitcher or other container (even a large glass measuring cup actually works fantastically well!). The cocktail is then strained into a rocks glass with traditionally one large ice cube. I used Spring44 gin for this cocktail, which I think is the perfect well-balanced gin for the blackberry Negroni. However, negronis are an incredible cocktail using any gin. The flavor of the botanicals plays a massive part in how this classic cocktail tastes, so experimenting with different gins will give you a variety of different flavors that are fun to try. The Blackberry Negroni is a fantastic version to experiment with as well, and I encourage you to play with the vast amount of different gins you can find in your area. One thing I always say is: don’t omit the orange peel. The oils in the peel bring the whole cocktail together. It is an integral ingredient in a Negroni. 

That is all for this week. I hope you are all staying safe and healthy out there. Please think of others in your choices. Together, we can all get through these crazy times. The world can be a better place with cooperation and understanding of those around us. Have a great week. Until next time!