"Negroni Svegliato" - When vermouth ends up in the Bialetti
"First fill the espresso maker with vermouth up to the mark" - a bad joke? No, the Negroni Svegliato is the latest craze from the aperitivo division.
The story of this particular Negroni ("Svegliato" - in German "aufgeweckter Negroni") began in the pages of the in-flight magazine of the now defunct Italian airline "Alitalia". Its London-based inventor, Salvatore "The Maestro" Calabrese, is one of the world's most renowned bartenders, former president of the United Kingdom Bartenders' Guild, and revealed the recipe to the magazine a few years ago.
Symbiosis of Italian essences
The preparation of this perfect symbiosis of Italian essences - espresso and vermouth - begins with a Moka Express, which uses vermouth on the stove instead of water to brew the coffee and infuse the vermouth with the coffee notes. The result goes into the refrigerator for the time being - a small tasting sip of the fresh coffee is already worthwhile at this point. In the process, a delicate taste makes itself felt, reminiscent of a less alcoholic version of a brandy praline.
"The Maestro"
However, Salvatore Calabrese receives the recognition he deserves not for his Negroni Svegliato, but for his tireless 50-year career as a bartender, marked by numerous cocktail creations and award-winning cocktail books. For example, he created the now legendary "Breakfast Martini", a deliciously bittersweet combination of gin, Cointreau, lemon juice and fine orange marmalade, served in a chilled cocktail glass. It is said that his wife inspired him to eat enough breakfast before work. Whether she meant a drink with gin and Cointreau is rather unlikely - Calabrese probably had in mind a breakfast toast with orange marmalade. The result, in turn, is cocktail history.
Back to the caffeinated bundle of energy: thanks to the coffee, the "woke Negroni" brings an additional flavour dimension. It does not seem as alcoholic as its classic relative, instead subtle chocolate notes reveal themselves on the palate. There's room for experimentation here - in addition to your choice of gin and vermouth, you can also play with different coffees to create the perfect Negroni Svegliato at home.
This drink is undoubtedly a tribute to the transition from summer to autumn. It embodies the elegance of Italy, the intensity of a good espresso and the complexity of a first-class, sensory cocktail.