Greetings Foodtopia fans! It’s everyone’s favorite time of year… when AVL Beer Week transitions seamlesslesly into Negroni Week. No time to stop and be bored here in Asheville when there are so many tasty things to be enjoyed! 2018 marks the 6th annual Negroni Week; where many of Asheville’s best restaurants and bars collaborate to make their own take on the classic Negroni, all to raise money for various local charities.
So what exactly is a Negroni?? The iconic Italian cocktail is made of equal parts gin, vermouth rosso and Campari- and is traditionally garnished with an orange peel. The most widely reported account of the drink’s origin is that it was first mixed in Florence in 1919 at Cafè Casoni. Legend has it that a Count by the name of Camillo Negroni asked the bartender to strengthen his favourite cocktail – the Americano – by replacing the soda water with gin, (we’ve all been there…) and the drink took off! Before long, everyone was coming into the bar for a ‘Negroni’.
The cocktail has officially re-entered the mainstream and has become a mixologist’s playground, with ingredients swapped for everything from mezcal to sherry. We love Negroni Week because it gives Asheville bartenders the perfect opportunity to mix up their own creations, all for a good cause! Below we’ve lined up some of our favorite downtown Asheville bars and what they’ll be offering for the 2018 Negroni week…
The Imperial Life
“Happy Negroni Week! We’re always excited for this week to roll around again. This year we’re celebrating with our House barrel aged Negroni and Our donations will make there way to USBG National Charity Foundation. ”
House Barrel aged Negroni:Beefeater, Cinzano, & Campari rested 100 days
Aux Bar
“We will be offering our twist on a White Negroni called “Appalachian Flora Song” featuring locally distilled Amaro Flora from Eda Rhyne distilling, Drunshambo Gunpowder Gin, and Cocchi Americano with a twist of lemon and a dash of Reagan’s orange bitters.”
The Times at S&W 
“In addition to a classic Negroni (equal 1oz parts beefeater, Campari and Antica) we have aslo fat washed Campari with toasted coconut and will be doing a Kingston Negroni with 1oz plantation pineapple, .25oz Wray & Nephew, 1oz coconut Campari, .75 dolin dry vermouth.”
Rhubarb
“We are welcoming Negroni Week 2018 at Rhubarb with the Negroni Sbagliato…. meaning the “bungled” or “mistaken,” in Italian. Sparkling Cava will take the place of gin in this refreshing wrong doing!
Negroni Sbagliato with Campari, Punt e Mes, & Cava Topped with Negroni Gum Drops. In addition, our lunch menu will feature a Negroni Rhubarb Float.”
Also be sure to check out Rhubarb’s sister restaurant, The Rhu, who will be featuring a non-alcoholic Negroni Soda as well as a house Negroni Latte.
Rankin Vault
Just when you think a Negroni can’t get better… Rankin Vault Lounge makes it into a slushee. This Lemon Oleo frozen Negroni is citrus and fruit forward and is the perfect compliment to a sunny day on their patio.
Of course, all that Negroni drinking is known to work up an appetite! Lucky for you, our daily walking food tours allow guests to try several of Asheville’s best restaurants and craft cocktail bars all in one afternoon! Visit our website here for more information, or give us a call at 828-489-3266.
Cheers Asheville!
