Negroni Aperitif

Campari, Campari, Campari it seems the italian liquor is popping up in my life.  I had a sip of a friends cocktail a few weeks ago, liked it.  Looked up a few cocktail recipes.  Went to the Zagats on line tutorial on cocktails, and what liquor did they use as their demo Campari.  So you see it was meant to be, me and this little Negroni.  Though we got off to a rough start, because I accidentally used Dry Vermouth the first go around.  YUCK wow did I almost spit the red drink across the kitchen.  Not a good idea!  However, when you use Sweet Vermouth much much better.  Though don’t expect anything sweet this is more dry.  Perfect paired with nuts and/or olives.

The history of the Negroni dates back to Italy 1919 when the Italian count Camillo Negroni asked his barkeep to strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by adding gin rather than the normal soda water.  An orange wedge was added and the Negroni was born.

An apéritif is a cocktail or other alcoholic beverage that is specifically served before a meal, or with a small appetizer. In the culinary arts, the purpose of an apéritif is to stimulate or arouse the appetite.

P.S- Another tip I learned from the Zagats demo is that if you want to extend the shelf life of Vermouth once opened store it in the refrigerator.