In the aughts, we saw a surge of Negroni variants that employed a simple swap of gin for another spirit à la the Kingston Negroni and Mezcal Negroni. But in the current bartending landscape, much like the Martini, the Negroni is moving away from being a drink template and toward a general flavor profile. These days, some “Negronis” don’t even contain Campari. It seems that as long as a drink is bittersweet, dry, and served in a rocks glass, it’s perfectly acceptable to label it as a Negroni riff. Where does one draw the line?

With VinePair’s Negroni Knockout in full swing, Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss the evolution of the cocktail in the American consciousness and cocktail scene over the last couple of decades, and try to figure out if the drink is tied to the classic recipe and ratio or whether it now exists more as a general mood or category of drinks. Plus, a rant against tap cocktails! Tune in for more.

Zach is reading: Do Sommeliers Actually Try Every Bottle of Wine on Their Lists?
Adam is reading: The Sneaky Ingredients Making Your Cocktail More Expensive
Joanna is reading: More Than Just IPA: Across America, Craft Beer Has Surprising Pockets of Regionality

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