Cocktail Spotlight: Negroni & White Wings

A Negroni being sprayed with Orange oil

Negroni: World's Most ordered Cocktail

In 2023, the Negroni was crowned the most ordered cocktail in the world, according to a global poll conducted by Drinks International. But what is it about this iconic drink that continues to captivate drinkers everywhere?

The Origins of the Negroni

The Negroni traces its roots back to Florence, Italy, around 1919. Count Camillo Negroni is said to have inspired the cocktail by asking his bartender to make a stronger version of the Americano, which typically combines Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water. The bartender at Caffé Casoni (now Caffé Giacosa), Fosco Scarselli, swapped the soda water for gin, creating a bolder, more complex drink—thus, the Negroni was born.

What makes a Negroni?

A classic Negroni is a stirred cocktail made with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and the bitter, orange-flavoured aperitif, Campari. It’s usually garnished with a slice of orange or a twist of orange peel, adding a zesty aroma to each sip.

Our Negroni at The Natural Philosopher

At The Natural Philosopher, we put our own twist on this timeless cocktail. Our Negroni is crafted with 25ml of Hayman's London Dry Gin, 25ml of Carpano Classico Sweet Vermouth, and 25ml of Campari. We choose Carpano Classico for its balanced profile, which complements drinks like the Negroni, Manhattan, Americano, and Vieux Carré.

One unique touch we bring is our sustainable approach to garnishing. Instead of using fresh orange slices—most of which end up uneaten—we create an orange spray. By infusing orange peels into vodka and using an atomizer, we achieve the same fresh citrus aroma while reducing waste. This simple change allows us to garnish thousands of cocktails with just one orange, saving pounds of fruit from going to waste each year!

A Twist for October: White Wings

As part of our rotating signature menu, we like to feature familiar classics with a modern twist. This month’s take on the Negroni is our White Wings—a fresh yet sophisticated variation using Blanco Tequila.

The "White Wings" from The Natural Philosopher

Here’s how you can make it:

Ingredients:

• 30ml Tequila Blanco (we use Cazcabel) infused with 10g of olive leaves

• 10ml Suze

• 10ml Aperol

• 10ml Campari

• 20ml Regal Rogue Bold Red Vermouth

• A Nocellara olive for garnish

Instructions:

1. Infuse the tequila with olive leaves for at least 6 hours, but no more than 15 hours. The tannins from the leaves add a subtle depth to the tequila, but infusing too long makes it overly astringent.

2. Once infused, strain the tequila and combine 30ml with Suze, Aperol, Campari, and Regal Rogue Bold Red Vermouth.

3. Stir over ice until well chilled.

4. Pour over a large ice block in a frozen glass.

5. Garnish with a Nocellara olive.

Each amaro in this drink brings its own complexity to the mix, while the Regal Rogue vermouth, with its vanilla-forward notes, creates a beautifully smooth finish. The olive leaf infusion adds a gentle tannic touch, balancing out the bitterness and enhancing the overall drinking experience.

Pro Tip

For the full White Wings experience, we suggest drinking half your cocktail before indulging in the buttery Nocellara olive. The olive will cleanse your palate, allowing you to revisit the drink with a fresh perspective, almost like tasting it for the first time again.

Try It Yourself!

We hope you enjoy this recipe! If you give it a go, leave us a comment below and let us know where in the world you're sipping your White Wings.