You can join the 300 bars across the region stirring it up for charity. By Natasha Hong.
Seven days, three spirits, one great cause. Negroni Week returns with a bitter vengeance in 2017, and this year is shaping up to be even bigger than last in Asia.
First launched in 2013, the annual week of charitable drinking has since grown to cover over 60 countries around the world, with bars setting aside a portion of the proceeds of Negroni sales to charity. This year, participating bars are asked for an upfront donation of USD25 – they decide which of the 42 participating international charities it goes to – and encouraged to return to Negroni Week’s website to supplement that with any additional donations they receive during the week.
This year, regional organisers Campari are estimating a total of more than 300 bars in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia signing up to stir drinks for the cause.
Bartenders can choose to serve the classic cocktail’s 1:1:1 ratio of Campari, gin and sweet vermouth, or promote their own twist on the cocktail, made with the brand of Italian aperitif. In Singapore, bartenders like Rhyse Borland from Sugarhall are running with the theme in devising creations like the Rosemary Negroni Cooler – a mix of Campari, Cinzano Rosso vermouth, passionfruit syrup and overproof rum inspired by his grandmother Rosemary – sold to benefit the Alzheimer’s Disease Association.
Also in Singapore, Symphony Loo from Neon Pigeon stirs down Campari with The Botanist gin, a Kyoho grape-infused sweet vermouth, honey grape liqueur and honey umeshu in the 2/1 Kyoho Negroni, with proceeds to Save the Children.
To sign your bar up for this year’s Negroni Week, speak to your local Campari rep, or sign up on Negroni Week’s website before June 1.
