1. “Make mine a Negroni!”
Ivy Mix, co-owner and head bartender, Leyenda, NYC
“I tend to order a Negroni or a white wine spritzer (yeah I know). It depends on where I am at but I can order a Negroni almost anywhere. While it is a hard drink to make perfectly, it is also a hard drink to completely mess up. And it is a great drink to gauge your bartender with: What gin is she using? What vermouth? Then, the white wine spritzer is my go to for when I'm out and need hydration and longevity in my drinking. I can order it in any bar (dives especially) and it always makes the cocktail geeks look at me sideways. Want to make it more interesting? Make it with fino sherry!”
Kevin Patnode, Kühlanbeyi, Istanbul, Turkey
“My go to drink is a Negroni when I’m out because it’s really hard (although I’ve had a few bad ones) to mess up. I usually drink mine in equal parts, so dictating the recipe is simple and just about every bar in the world can make that drink. It’s really a perfect drink for most seasons and if I’m having drinks in the day, sometimes I’ll drink its predecessor the Americano—swap the gin for soda water—for something a little less boozy.”
Paige Aubort, The Lobo Plantation, Sydney, Australia
“I’m a sucker for simply made, boozy drinks that get straight to the point. I still remember the first time I sat at a bar and my wiser, more experienced companion ordered a Negroni for me. He said that I may not like it at first, that I may not automatically warm to the flavors, but that a week from now I would be somewhere far away from this bar craving a particular taste. And goddamnit he was right.”