Muscat Negroni

The Negroni is already one of the world’s great cocktails. Equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred over ice until perfectly cold and slightly diluted. It is bitter, complex, beautiful and entirely its own thing.

Replace the sweet vermouth with Rutherglen Classic Muscat and you get something different and arguably better. The Muscat is sweeter than vermouth, so the drink leans toward the richer end of the Negroni spectrum, but the extra complexity it brings, that combination of caramel, dried fruit and aged oak character, gives the whole thing a depth that standard vermouth simply cannot match.

This is a brilliant aperitivo drink for a warm spring evening. Stirred, not shaken, served over a single large ice cube with an orange peel that you actually express over the glass rather than just drop in.

Serves 1. Ready in 3 minutes.

Ingredients

●     30ml gin

●     30ml Campari

●     30ml NV Classic Muscat

●     Large ice cube

●     Orange peel to garnish

Method

1.  Add the gin, Campari and Muscat to a mixing glass filled with ice.

2.  Stir for 25 to 30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.

3.  Strain into a rocks glass over a large single ice cube.

4.  Hold the orange peel skin-side down over the glass and squeeze to express the oils over the surface of the drink. Drop it in.

Tip: The Muscat makes this Negroni sweeter than the classic. If you prefer it drier, reduce the Muscat to 20ml and add 10ml dry vermouth to make up the difference. Either way, express the orange peel: it makes a real difference to the aroma.

Which Muscat to Use

NV Classic Muscat is the one for this drink. Its depth and complexity hold up beautifully against the bitterness of Campari. Rutherglen Muscat is also worth trying if you want a lighter, more fragrant version. Shop at stantonandkilleen.com.au