Not everyone enjoys a Negroni. I get it. They’re really rather bitter, certainly an acquired taste and when there’s Espresso Martinis and Margaritas on offer – most people will ignore this Italian classic cocktail in favour of the sweeter, sexier offerings.
For me though, it’s a winner. I bloody LOVE Campari, so you can put it into anything and I’ll drink it. And I mean anything; soda, gravy, shower gel… it doesn’t matter to me as long as there’s Campari in there.
So for Negroni Week this week we’ve scoured the bars and restaurants of Manchester to see what people are doing and where you can celebrate this most auspicious event in the calendar…
FREE Negronis at Three Little Words
The gin distillery and cocktail bar, Three Little Words, are giving away 50 FREE Negronis this Friday 17th September – first come, first served. Not only that – their Negronis will be priced at just £5 per day. In true Three Little Words style, the bar team will be creating Negronis with a twist, using different gins from the Manchester Gin range to create a truly unique Negroni experience.
Three Little Words, 12-13 Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP
threelittlewordsmcr.co.uk
The ‘Curated’ Negroni at Schofield’s Bar
Strong contender for the best cocktail bar in the entire city, as you’d expect Schofield’s version of the Negroni is pure class, inspired by the creator of the drink; Count Camillo Negroni. They use Bombay Gin here, with Campari and finally Asterley Bros. Estate Vermouth – a sweet ‘rosso’ vermouth made by infusing 31 botanicals with English pinot noir.
Schofield’s Bar, 3 Little Quay Street Sunlight House, Manchester M3 3JZ
www.schofieldsbar.com
Sipmith Negroni Week at Mecanica
The Northern Quarter bar have teamed up with Sipsmith Gin to launch three new cocktails available for this week ONLY. First up is the classic Negroni made using Sipmith, Campari and Cocchi Di Torino (one of the best vermouths in the world), the White Negroni; made using Schofield’s Dry Vermouth, Suze (herbal liquer) and Coconut. Finally, there’s the Enzoni; with Sipsmith Zesty Orange Gin, Sipello Gooseberry Aperitif and Grape. All available this week for £9.50.
Mecanica, 1-3 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JJ
www.mecanicabar.com
Negroni Month at The Pen & Pencil
The Northern Quarter favourite have got together with Sipsmith and Campari to launch an exclusive Negroni menu that’s available not just for Negroni week, but the entirety of September. All priced at £9 you can get your hands on the Classic Negroni, the Negroni Rosa (with lemon drizzle gin), Negroni Bianca (with zesty lemon gin and triple sec) and the brilliant Figroni (made using sloe gin, Campari and a fig liqueur). Sales from the cocktails will be going to The Drinks Trust and Shaken Not Broken, supporting and assisting hospitality workers affected by the global pandemic.
The Pen And Pencil, Fourways House, 57 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EJ
thepenandpencilnq.co.uk
Sour-Cherry Negroni at Hawksmoor
Renowned for the quality of their steaks (and seafood), Hawksmoor’s cocktails sometimes get overlooked, which is a shame really because they’re world-class – much like the rest of everything they do too. They do a banging Sour Cherry Negroni in here, made using Tanqueray Gin, Campari, Martini Rubino and Sour Cherry. Mixing the best of Italian booze with the short-lived British cherry season to create one of the best cocktails that will ever grace your lips.
Hawksmoor, 184 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
thehawksmoor.com
Sonia’s Negroni at Dishoom
A highly unique take on the Negroni here from Dishoom, and as you’d expect – there’s a bit of an Indian theme to it. I’m not entirely sure who ‘Sonia’ is but she can make a bloody decent Negroni, with equal parts Gin, Campari and Dishoom’s very own vermouth, which is macerated with vanilla, cinnamon and ginger. The whole thing is then bottle-aged to give it a smooth, tawny intensity.
Dishoom, 32 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT
www.dishoom.com
Negroni Sour at The Mews
Deansgate newcomer, The Mews, have ‘House’ twists on 10 of the world’s favourite classic cocktails, and the Negroni is no exception. Their Negroni Sour is made using the classic gin and vermouth, but with added cherry liqueur, bitters, lemon juice and sugar -meaning it’s sweeter and much less bitter than the classic version. No Campari in there either, so if you’re not a fan – this is the one for you.
The Classic Negroni at Don Giovanni
The city’s oldest independent Italian, you’d certainly expect Don Giovanni to do a banging Italian Negroni and guess what?! Of course they bloody do! Talk to any of the bar staff here and they take their Negroni skills VERY seriously. It pays off too with a classic Negroni that’s easily one of the best and most authentic in the entire city. No gimmicks, no ‘twists’ – just a classic cocktail to enjoy alongside a huge bowl of pasta.
Don Giovanni, Peter House, 1 Oxford St, Manchester M1 5AN
dongiovanni.uk.com
The Fig Negroni at Henry C
Easily one of our most favourite cocktail bars ever, you can always rely on Henry C to come up with the goods, and this Negroni Week you should probably pop in here and give their unique Fig Negroni a try. You certainly won’t regret it. Using Tanqueray Gin, Campari, Punt e Mes Italian Vermouth and Fig syrup – this is equal parts bitter, sweet and reminiscent of everyone’s favourite biscuit – the Fig Roll.
Henry C, 107 Manchester Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9GA
www.wearehenryc.com
Negroni Week at Common
Every year Common make an almighty fuss over the Negroni and 2021 is no different. For every Negroni ordered from their menu, they’ll donate some money to The Drinks Trust who provide vocational, practical, emotional and financial support to those who are currently working, or have worked, in the UK drinks industry. For the whole week they’ve got 4 NEGRONI SPECIALS, including a ‘breakfast’ Negroni with Aperol, a Strawberry & Elderflower one, a Negroni 24 (with sweet vermouth) and a delicately sweet Rhubarb and Rose variation.
Common, 39-41 Edge St, Manchester M4 1HW
www.aplacecalledcommon.co.uk
The Negroni Twists at Tariff & Dale
As well as the classic Negroni cocktail over at Tariff & Dale, they also offer up a couple of unique twists that are well worth a try this Negroni Week. First up is the Lucien Gaudin, made using Tanqueray 10, Cointreau, Campari and Dry Vermouth, and the Picpoul Negroni, where they use Nordes premium gin with Campari, Martini Ambrato, Picpoul (wine) Cordial and grape and rosemary bitters. That final one is mega!
Tariff & Dale, 2 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FN
tariffanddale.com
500+ Gins Negroni at Atlas Bar
No, sorry, this isn’t a Negroni that includes 500 gins. That would be ridiculous. Instead you have the city’s biggest selection of gins to choose from for your Negroni, whether you go for something classic, something expensive or something proper weird – the choice of Negroni’s is pretty much endless. Choose a Parma Violets Gin and see what that tastes like (probably horrible), or try a hard-to-find Japanese gin for an exclusive cocktail that only around 3 people in the entire world have had. The choice is yours.
Atlas Bar, 376 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LY
atlasbarmanchester.com
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