Where’s your negroni?
We’re in the midst of Negroni week, which means seven charitable days dedicated to the bitter and boozy, equal parts cocktail of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. Since its inception three years ago, the worldwide drink-for-charity celebration has grown to 6,000 bars and raised more than $320,000. That’s a lot of of negronis.
This year, Negroni Week runs from June 6 through June 12. More than 100 bars across Georgia are participating, giving you ample opportunity to help raise money for local charities across the state.
Here's how the week works: go to a participating bar . Order the negroni, pay your bill and a portion of your purchase will go to the bar's chosen charity.
We’re breaking down Atlanta’s must-try negronis and events.
The Language of Love
The Lawrence puts the 'R'' in riff with this French West Indies-inspired negroni . Using not one but two rhum agricoles, The Lawrence brings the flavors of Italy to the Caribbean. The riff is a masterful mix of the sweet, grassy funk of Martinique and Guadeloupe's white and dark rhums and the bitterness of Campari tied together with an herbal, gin-like concoction of gran classico aperitif and casa mariol vermouth. Benefiting The Giving Kitchen .
The Lawrence, 905 Juniper St. NE, Atlanta. 404-961-7177, thelawrenceatlanta.com.
Credit: Yvonne Zusel
Credit: Yvonne Zusel
The Red Light
Tavernpointe wins for best presentation. This Dutch negroni, nicknamed "The Red Light" after Amsterdam's infamous district, uses the motherland's oldest malt-style gin, Bols Genever. Beverage manager Madison Burch explained, "Since Bols Genever makes a delicious negroni and is made in Amsterdam, I reached out to Bols about using it as our Negroni Week feature. We discussed presentation and it was kind of a "Dude! How cool would it be if we had it in a lightbulb" moment. I never realized they would actually have them made for us!" Weeks later the unique glassware arrived and the idea spread. Unscrew the top, pour and send some dollars to the P4 Foundation for children's cancer research .
Tavernpointe, 545 Peachtree St. NE #101, Atlanta. 404-549-3954, tavernpointe.com.
Smoke and Barrel
Bitter, boozy and smokey, The Sound Table's classic negroni gets barrel-aged and smoked giving the cocktail rich depth, a bit of an edge and major chill factor. It's the quintessential Old Fourth Ward nightcap after an evening of bar hopping or a late night show. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the YO Boulevard! campaign started by councilman Kwanza Hall in 2012 aimed at helping over 600 children living below the poverty line along the Boulevard corridor.
The Sound Table, 483 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-835-2534, thesoundtable.com.
My Morning ’groni
Wake up and smell the coffee...and gin. My Parents' Basement gives the negroni a morning cocktail makeover with this shaken not stirred version using Wanderlust Nitro coffee. Subtle coffee notes hit on the nose, but upon first sip the drink quickly returns to its negroni roots before slipping back into daybreak with hints of coffee at the finish. Everything about this negroni is pleasantly surprising including the fact that the cold brew doesn't bump up the bitterness but takes the edge off like that first cup of morning coffee. The nitrogen gives the cocktail a hint of effervescence, cleverly lifting the drink into smooth and airy territory. Benefiting animal welfare organization LifeLine Animal Project.
My Parents’ Basement, 22 N. Avondale Road, Avondale Estate. 404-292-4607, myparentsbasementcbcb.com.
Credit: Yvonne Zusel
Credit: Yvonne Zusel
White Negroni
Polaris channels Atlanta's love of the farmer's market with this fresh take on the classic. Using the lower proof organic Prairie Gin, dolin dry vermouth and replacing the heavier Campari with the more quaffable salers aperitif, this negroni-light is simply perfect for sipping on a hot Summer night above the city lights. A great choice for those seeking a less boozy and bitter negroni or a solid alternative to the gin and tonic. Two dollars from each negroni sold will benefit Peachtree Road Farmer's Market.
Polaris, 265 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 404-460-6425, polarisatlanta.com.
Negroni kit
H&F Bottle Shop has made making negronis at home easier. Walk in, ask for the negroni kit and let the helpful shop clerk gather your goodies for you. You pay, you donate, you walk out the door with an armful of booze and the makings of many negronis. The kit includes Dutch gin Bols Genever, Campari and carpano antica. Benefiting The Captain Planet Foundation , a children's environmental education organization.
H&F Bottle Shop, 2357 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-841-4070, hfbottleshop.com.
18.21 Bitters, June 9, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., $5
Come to 18.21 Bitters in Ponce City Market for an evening of negroni slushies and shopping benefiting Emory's Winship Cancer Institute . A $5 donation gets you one slushie and 10% off products.
18.21 Bitters, Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-852-7023, 1821bitters.com.
Decatur bar crawl, June 10, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
End your week with a negroni bar crawl through Decatur sponsored by Campari. Benefiting The Giving Kitchen .
Kimball House, 303 E. Howard Ave., Decatur, 404-378-3502, kimball-house.com.
Brush Sushi, 316 Church St., Decatur. 678-949-9412, brushatl.com.
Victory Sandwich Bar, 340 Church St., Decatur. 404-377-9300, vicsandwich.com.
Leon’s Full Service, 131 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-687-0500, leonsfullservice.com.
Iberian Pig, 121 Sycamore St., Decatur. 404-371-8800, theiberianpigatl.com.
Negroni Week, June 7 - June 12, negroniweek.com. Post your negroni photos on Instagram using hashtag #NegroniWeek. Tag @ajcdining for a chance to be featured on our feed.
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