Here’s Where To Try Ireland’s Best Negronis This Negroni Week
Words: Maggie Fagan
If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I am evangelical about a Negroni. It’s the perfect drink (not to be confused with a perfect drink, IYKYK). Equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, it’s simple, it’s boozy, a little bitter and very sippable. Basically, everything one could want in a drink. So naturally I am absolutely jazzed for Negroni week that is currently live, running until September 27th. And as we know, there’s no Negroni without Campari. The Italian red aperitif has been part of the fabric of the drink since its humble beginnings in Florence circa 1919.
Every September, Negroni Week celebrates this wonderful beverage, with bars and bartenders around the world putting their own spin on the drink while raising money for charity. With this year’s Negroni Week on the way, here are some of the places around Ireland worth a visit to drink the quote un quote, nectar.
The Collins Club, Dublin
Kicking this list off in at number five is a hotel bar. Yes, hotel bars can either be shite or absolutely incredible, and thankfully, The Collins Club is firmly in the latter camp. For Negroni Week, the lads have whipped up a bespoke cocktail with an Autumnal sheen to it. The Pumpkin Seed Negroni sees Campari, Rye Whiskey, Pumpkin Seed Distillate, and Sweet Vermouth expertly stirred into a rocks glass and garnished with a grain cracker to bring out the nuttiness in the pumpkin see distillate.
Rattlebag, Belfast
At Rattlebag on Ann Street in Belfast, simplicity is key and they pride themselves in using premium spirits, balanced flavours, with a sprinkle of experimentation. Their Negroni is a good example of this. It sticks to the classic formula but gets a subtle floral lift from lavender, which works surprisingly well with the bitterness of the Campari.
Cask, Cork City
Cask at Hotel Isaacs on MacCurtain Street is no doubt one of the better cocktail bars in Cork City. Cask leads with Irish ingredients. Irish ingredients are at the heart of what they do, and their current menu, Taste Anarchy, is a collaboration with local foragers, farmers and fermenters, built around the idea of rejecting mass production in favour of what’s growing, being made and being fermented here. They have concocted a special creation for Negroni Week, that they are serving all month, which is very excited for you negroni fans out there. Their Hedge Row Hopping is made with Campari, Heritage Poitin, Gin, Blackberry and Honeysuckle Vermouth, sweetened with a touch of Burnt Honey. Weaving Poitín into a Negroni is such a Cask thing to do and we are here for it.
Fuoco, Ranelagh
Dublin’s newest restaurant Fuoco have taken over the former Mak spot in Ranelagh, and being the sister restaurant to Parilla – you already know that their cocktails are a highlight of the whole experience. Their spin on the Negroni features Campairi, gin, apricot, tonka, and Punt e Mes, an aperitivo that is described as having being half way between a sweet vermouth and a bitter Campari.
Paladar, Cork City
And coming in at number one is this gem. For such a small city, Cork city has some killer cocktail bars. One of the best being Paladar on Bridge Street. Latin American culture is at the heart of everything they do – from the food and music to a cocktail menu built around the spirits and flavours of the region. Their Mezcal Negroni swaps the usual gin for a smoky mezcal, bringing a little more depth and a gentle smokiness to the bitter, boozy classic. It’s a simple switch, but fuck me it’s effective.
