Holiday Negroni: Campari, Bulldog Gin, Cocchi Torino

This festive twist on a classic aperitif is best savored slowly in a rocks glass over a large ice cube, allowing the complex flavors to unfold as the drink gradually chills and dilutes. While perfect for sipping by a crackling fire on chilly winter evenings, it also shines as a pre-dinner drink year-round, pairing beautifully with rich appetizers like aged cheeses, charcuterie, or roasted nuts to awaken the palate before a hearty meal.

Nose: Juniper and citrus from the gin mingle with Campari's herbal bitterness. Sweet vermouth adds hints of spiced orange and vanilla. A festive aroma of candied fruits and warm spices emerges.

Palate: Bold and bittersweet. Gin's botanicals provide a crisp backbone. Campari's signature bitterness is prominent but balanced by the vermouth's sweetness. Notes of orange peel, cinnamon, and dried cherries unfold.

Finish: Long and warming. The bitterness lingers pleasantly, accompanied by traces of juniper and sweet spices. A subtle nuttiness from the vermouth rounds out the experience, leaving a satisfying dryness that invites another sip.

The Holiday Negroni is a festive twist on the classic cocktail, combining equal parts Campari, Bulldog Gin, and Cocchi Torino sweet vermouth. What makes this version special is the use of Bulldog Gin, which features a unique blend of botanicals including dragon eye, poppy, and lotus leaves, adding subtle complexity to the drink's flavor profile.

• The Holiday Negroni's vibrant red hue isn't just festive—it's a nod to Campari's original coloring, which came from carmine dye extracted from crushed cochineal insects until 2006. Now, the iconic color comes from artificial dyes, making the cocktail vegan-friendly.
• Bulldog Gin, a key component in this Holiday Negroni, contains an unusual botanical: dragon eye. This exotic fruit, closely related to lychee, is said to have been used by ancient Chinese emperors to enhance intelligence and memory.
• Cocchi Torino, the vermouth in this Holiday Negroni, was a favorite of King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy. He liked it so much that he granted the Cocchi winery the right to use the Royal Savoy coat of arms on their bottles—a distinction they still proudly display today.