S2E9 // "Negroni Caraibico" [Original Take]

Origin story of the Negroni Caraibico: The summer of 2021 kickstarted a dual obsession in my cocktail exploration: amaro and rum. I became curious about both when I discovered the sheer variety of different styles. They both varied depending on region, with the definitions changing depending where it was developed. With rum, it depends on the way the country or region processed the sugarcane. For amaro, it depends on the mixture of botanicals infused into the base alcohol. The amount to learn and experience seemed endless, and it was this exact reason I was so drawn to these two categories of drinks.

Time passed. I did my fair share of “experiencing”, but I noticed one glaring observation: not many places created drinks that combined both amaro and rum together. I would even ask the bartender to come up with their own concoction (if the place was quiet). In the end, I took it upon myself to create a drink that showcased both. I had recently visited Amor y Amargo in NYC and I drew upon my experience there in creating this riff on a Negroni.

The name comes from the Italian word for Caribbean. The drink certainly has strong Caribbean vibes, with the allspice dram and rum blending well together. The Cynar (artichoke amaro) acts as the bittering element instead of the previously-used gentian. The Amaro Lucano fills out the body of the drink alongside the sweet vermouth. The orange bitters and orange peel brings back that Negroni character that might be associated with Campari. This drink is very balanced and still maintains the three component rule of a Negroni-type of drink. The only alteration is splitting the base of the bitter liqueur/amaro component. This is a drink I’m proud to have created, I just need to figure out how to pronounce it correctly.

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