CocktailsCindy YuMocktail Negroni, mocktail, cocktail recipes, dry month, going dry, Lumette London Dry, Seedlip Grove 42, nonalcoholic drink, cocktail culture, cocktail recipe, Cocktails in the JungleComment

Mocktail: Negroni

CocktailsCindy YuMocktail Negroni, mocktail, cocktail recipes, dry month, going dry, Lumette London Dry, Seedlip Grove 42, nonalcoholic drink, cocktail culture, cocktail recipe, Cocktails in the JungleComment
Mocktail: Negroni

This was perhaps the toughest mocktail to create. When you’re tackling one of the most popular, classic drinks in the world, there’s a lot at stake.

Over the course of two weeks, I tried well over a dozen different recipes I could find online. Nothing worked for me. It’s not about recreating the Negroni so that it tastes exactly like the original, because that would be a futile exercise. The magic of gin, red vermouth and Campari - it’s untouchable. But you do want to ensure those elements that make the Negroni great - the bitter, citrusy, slightly herbaceous with a hint of sweetness - are present. I started experimenting with different non-alcoholic spirits: each, on their own, presents varying levels of complexity. You’ll notice that this mocktail is more complicated than the original, but it’s worth it. After creating 15 different recipes, I finally landed on one that is worth sharing with all of you.

The bitterness primarily comes from both the muddling of an orange slice - and allowing the pith to soak in the juices - as well as from the Chinotto - a popular bitter, Italian soda. The initial soaking and marination of flavours occur during the first stirring of the ingredients (without ice). You don't want the ice initially to prevent dilution. This is important given the flavourings in the non-alcoholic spirit are very subtle; hence any initial dilution can result in a loss of flavours. For the same reason, I like to serve this drink ‘up,’ meaning without ice in a chilled coupe glass. I’ll only allow the contents to be stirred in ice for 10 seconds and no further.

MOCKTAIL NEGRONI

1 slice of orange
1 oz Lumette London Dry Non-Alcoholic Spirit
3/4 oz Seedlip Grove 42 Non-Alcoholic Spirit
1 1/2 oz Chinotto Italian Soda
1/4 oz Grenadine
Dash of orange bitters
Dash of Angostura bitters

Muddle orange slice in a dry mixing glass. Add all the other ingredients and stir without ice. Add ice and stir again (no more than 10 seconds). Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Twist orange peel over the drink, rim the glass and drop peel into the coupe.

Enjoy! xx