The noblest of cocktails, the Negroni has captured the imagination of bars around the world in recent years. And though it’s deceptively simple – just gin, Campari and the vermouth of your choice – there are myriad different iterations.
And what with this week being Negroni Week, we thought we’d bring a few of the very best in Manchester for you to swim about it.
10 Tib Lane
All of Tib Lane’s cocktails are worth exploring (particularly during their daily happy hour), but for this week, their sour berry Negroni is the one. It’s blended with Beefeater gin, sour blackberry, Campari, Dolin Rouge vermouth and a hint of vanilla on the finish. It’s a real piece of work.
10 Tib Ln, Manchester M2 4JB
Juice Box
Juice Box in both Didsbury and the new branch on Bridge Street do a five pound Negroni all day long, every day of the week. And yes, it’s not got the bells and whistles, the additional infusions, the tricky to source amaro from a single distiller in Italy, but they’re a fiver. And they’re great. And for that, we must be truly thankful.
698 Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2DN and 62 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BW
Nordie
This gem in Levenshulme is throwing itself into Negroni week, with a whole menu of the buggers. The best of the bunch? Hard to choose. The sbagliato, with a dash of fizz, is always welcome, but we’re all over the ‘fumo’ with smoky lapsang tea gin.
1044 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WX
Maray
If the straight-up bitterness of Campari is a little too much for you, Maray’s take on the classic could be what turns you to the dark side. They infuse their Campari with pineapple to give it a slightly sweeter twist, blending it with Beefeater gin and sweet vermouth. It really, really works.
14 Brazennose St, Manchester M2 6LW
Hawksmoor
The Hawksmoor Negroni is the stuff of which dreams are made. It’s a sour cherry number, mixed up with Tanqueray, Campari, Martini Rubino vermouth and some sour cherry syrup to add an unctuous twist. The only issue being that once you’ve tried it with cherry, other lesser Negronis struggle to measure up.
184 – 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
Dishoom
The Premier Padmini Negroni at Dishoom is steeped in history. It’s a nod to the Italian Fiat 1100 (also known as the Premier Padmini), which was made in India from 1964 right up to 2001. The car is as synonymous as the Indian taxi, just as the Austin FX4 is in London. Indian cocoa and sweet pears are soaked overnight in Campari, then blended with vermouth and dry citrus gin, and garnished with chocolate. It’s sumptuous (and you can even buy it in bottles).
32 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT
Henry C
Chorlton’s favourite neighbourhood bar gives you boundless Negroni options, even before you get to the Negroni section of the menu, there’s a strawberry sbagliato, with strawberry infused Campari, Dolin Rouge vermouth, St Germain, a champagne cordial and lemon oil. But their white negroni is a cracker – simple but devastating, with Plymouth Gin, Suze and Lillet Blanc. Plus, every Thursday, they’re a fiver, all night.
107 Manchester Rd, Chorlton, Manchester M21 9GA
Three Little Words
Tucked under the arches at the end of Deansgate, Three Little Words always throws itself into Negroni week, and this year is no exception. They’re even throwing a mixing masterclass this weekend. But in the meantime, their Negronis are £7.50 all week, from the fruity raspberry to their signature classic, all made with their own Manchester Gin.
10-15 Watson St, Manchester M3 4LP
Blinker
Blinker’s Tiny Negroni is nothing of the sort. It is a mighty beverage indeed. Bartender extraordinaire Dan Berger’s take on the classic involves the fabulous Plymouth Dry gin, melding it with Surrey-distilled aperitif Sipello, fragrant with gooseberries, and Cocchi di Torino vermouth and orange oils. No Campari, so it’s a bit controversial, but it is excellent. And for this so special of weeks, they’ve got a Coffee Bean Negroni on – with La Hechicera Rum, Antica Formula vermouth, Carpano botanic bitters, coffee beans and orange. Saluti.
64-72 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ
