Do you know how many weird and not terrible but not particularly inspiring Campari drinks I had to consume just to get one worth posting?
At last I found it. Something warming but not warm, something holiday but not heavy, a drink to have before the meal. Turns out it’s best to stick with the classics or, at least, skate around the edge of the classic.
looking for some other cold but warming cocktails?
you can’t go wrong with the classic manhattan
or try out this winter gimlet!
A note on ingredients in the holiday rum negroni
about the rum
- Mt Gay Eclipse is my go to golden rum, but I am not a rum expert. It’s a great mixer- in the rum negroni or with tea or tonic or spiced apple cider. The golden is the key part of this equation- the brand is negotiable.
about the sweet vermouth
- I have two bottles of vermoth rosso – one is the big bottle from trader joes. It’s Italian. It’s about five dollars, in a negroni it works just fine- there is so much going on with the campari (or red aperitivo of your choice) that it seems fine to save the antiqua formula with it’s more intriguing and complex flavor (and much heftier price tag) for a manhattan – because the holidays are also manhattan season 🙂
about the red italian aperitivo
- once upon a time on the shelves in the united states there was only Campari. And for that reason Campari is my sentimental favorite- it is stronger than most of the other aperitivos and certainly one of the most bitter. And I love it. But sometimes I stray and it’s nice to have an alternative like Peychauds or Aperol around, lower in alcohol and sweeter on the tongue (and ten dollars less a bottle) they make nice sippers and will work in a pinch with a negroni (in the holiday rum negroni I would up the bitters by a drop or two ).
- this Saveur article does a great job of talking you through most of the red italian bitters (its a few years old so Peychauds is not on the list.
The Journey To and From: A holiday rum negroni for our inner surfer
This drink comes with a story based on a photo prompt from 100 word story, you can read the winning entry and see the photo here. I added some words so don’t go counting mine!
The Journey To and From
There are no weeks or months here, no seasons, only mornings and the sea; salty skin and breakfasts of bitter tea and sweet banana pancakes.
I journeyed south to forget winter, conquer my fears of the deep. With each dawn I go further, catch one more wave, count bruises gained and scars washed away.
The expats gather on the veranda of the old hotel, clink their ice and complain about the heat. As I wander through their tables to my room I leave behind a trail of sand and silence that waits to be swept away while we all sleep.
holiday rum negroni
Ingredients
- 1 ounce campari
- 1 ounce mt. gay eclipse rum
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth/vermouth rosso I’m no expert when it comes to the dizzying array of vermouths now available, mine is the inexpensive good enough from Trader Joes
- a few dashes orange bitters
- enough 151 to soak some orange peel
- orange peel pith removed
- cinnamon
- fire
Instructions
- soak the orange zest in a teaspoon of 151 rum so it’s good and flammable
- combine campari, rum, vermouth, and bitters in a squat glass, stir to combine
- add ice cubes, a large cube that sits out of the liquid a bit would be ideal
- set the zest orange on fire and place in the drink, while the orange is still burning sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon over the top so it sparks
- extinguish flames as necessary
- consume with good cheer
Video
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