Cynar Negroni

The Cynar Negroni is an intriguing spin on the classic featuring this Italian liqueur! It gives it a bitter, citrusy, and mellow flavor.

When it comes to Negroni variations, we tend to like them even better than the original. Such is the case with the Cynar Negroni! This intriguing spin features Cynar, an Italian amaro with hints of caramel, toffee and an herbal bitter finish. It makes a bitter, mellow Negroni that’s more interesting to drink, in our opinion! Here’s how to make it, and a few notes about this unique liqueur.

What’s in a Cynar Negroni?

The Cynar Negroni is a spin on the classic Negroni, a cocktail invented in the 1920’s in Italy made with Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth. This spin simply swaps out Campari with Cynar, an Italian bitter aperitif liqueur. Instead of fiery red, this variation is dark brown in color and has a mellower flavor. The ingredients in a Cynar Negroni are equal parts:

• Cynar
• Gin
• Sweet vermouth

More about Cynar

Amaro is a family of Italian herbal liqueurs that taste bitter (amaro means bitter in Italian). It encompasses a wide range of spirits: the most famous being ultra-bitter Campari. At the other end of the spectrum is Aperol, sweet and barely bitter at all. Cynar is somewhere in the middle. Here are a few notes on exactly what Cynar is and why to add it to your collection:

• Cynar is an Italian amaro or bitter liqueur made with 13 herbs and spices, including artichoke leaves. The name is derived from the scientific name for artichoke (cynara), and a bright green artichoke features as part of the logo. Cynar was invented in 1952 by an entrepreneur from Venice, Italy. It has since been acquired by the Campari Group (that distributes Campari, Aperol, Averna and other liqueurs).
• How to say it? You might be saying it wrong. Pronounce it “Ch-NAHR.”
• What does Cynar taste like? The flavor is bittersweet, with notes of caramel, toffee and cinnamon, and an herbal bitter finish.
• What else to make with it? Try the Cynar Spritz or Bitter Giuseppe.

How to make a Cynar Negroni (basic steps)

The Cynar Negroni is so easy to make and memorize! It’s an equal parts cocktail, so it uses just 1 ounce of each ingredient.. Simply stir it together in a cocktail mixing glass, or any glass you have on hand. Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe below!):

• Mix. Add the Cynar, gin and sweet vermouth to a glass with 1 handful of ice and stir for 30 seconds. This chills the cocktail and dilutes it less than shaking in a cocktail shaker would.
• Strain into a glass. Strain into a lowball or Old Fashioned glass filled with ice. Want to make it look professional? Use clear ice, an artisan-style ice you can make at home that transforms the look of the drink.
• Express a lemon peel. Squeeze the oils from a lemon peel into the drink to add a citrusy essence.

More Negroni variations

There are so many interesting Negroni variations to try! Outside of the Cynar Negroni, here are some favorites:

• The Boulevardier: sweet vermouth, Campari and bourbon
• The Negroni Sbagliato: sweet vermouth, Campari and Prosecco
• The  White Negroni: Lillet Blanc, Suze, and gin
• The Old Pal: dry vermouth, Campari, and gin
• The Americano: sweet vermouth, Campari and soda water
• The Mezcal Negroni: sweet vermouth, Campari and mezcal

When to serve a Cynar Negroni

The Cynar Negroni is a sophisticated and complex, great for impressing friends and family. It also works for laid back patio sipping in warm weather. Here’s when we’d serve it:

• Happy hour or before dinner drink
• Dinner party drink
• Summer drink
• Late night drinks drink
• Guys or girls night drink
• Cocktail hour drink

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