Recipes

From uncertain origins to a hundred years of experimentation, the Negroni has contributed more than its fair share to the cocktail world, and the Mezcal Negroni is one of our favorites.

Few cocktails have impacted the drinking world in the same way as the Negroni. Bitter, rich, savory, and elegantly simple, the Negroni has inspired innovation across the globe since its inception. As a result, today, there are nearly countless variations on the classic cocktail, each bringing a new element to the bargoer’s senses. However, one interpretation of the Negroni stands out as one of the most ordered and most enjoyed amongst its many contemporaries; the Mezcal Negroni.

The History of the Negroni

Like so many of our favorite cocktails, the exact birth of the Negroni is not explicitly known. However, most cocktail scholars point to one story, which is the most likely origin of the cocktail. In 1919 at a bar called Caffè Casoni in Florence, Italy, the bartender Fosco Scarselli created the drink at the request of Pascal Olivier Count de Negroni. The story tells that Count Negroni wanted the soda water in his Americano substituted with Gin; Scarselli complied while also adding orange garnish instead of lemon, and thus the Negroni was born. It was a perfect 3 part cocktail made from Gin, Sweet Vermouth, and Campari. (The Americano cockatil is Vermouth, Campari, and Soda Water.) Later, the Negroni family created a distillery (which is still open to this day!) and distributed a ready-made version of the drink called the Antico Negroni 1919.

Variations of the Negroni

The Negroni’s simplicity has lent it to constant experimentation; this has resulted in a massive number of variations to spring up over the years, with some of the most popular being:

• The Boulevardier — This is a sweeter and warmer take on the Negroni with rye whiskey instead of Gin.

• The Cardinale — This variation is dryer and spicier by substituting sweet vermouth for dry and Campari for Contratto.

• The Ol’ Pal — This cocktail was invented in the prohibition era 1920s and substitutes rye whiskey for gin and dry vermouth instead of sweet vermouth.

• Using Tonic Water instead of Campari or other bitter liqueur. Yes, the idea of swapping the primary spirit was never questioned in the Negroni, but the new era of tonic water and mixers means you can swap out the bitter component too. We recognize there are many options, but the best bar none for this cocktail is Top Note Tonic's Gentiana. It is made with the same bitters as Campari, and therefore makes a suitable substitute. But more importantly, the tonic water can help create a more mild (in alcohol) drink, and therefore lend itself to drinking as a pre-dinner or afternoon cocktail.

The Mezcal Negroni

One of our favorite takes is the Mezcal Negroni. It is made by, as the name suggests, substituting the Gin for Mezcal; doing so creates an outstanding balance from the smokiness of the Mezcal complementing the bitterness of the Campari and the Sweetness of the Vermouth; it also makes the cocktail more palatable for general bargoers because it is less abrasive than the standard Negroni.

Mezcal Negroni Recipe:

1 oz. Mezcal (we recommend Del Maguey Vida)

1 oz. Campari or 1.5 oz Top Note Gentiana Tonic

1 oz. Sweet Vermouth (We recommend Cocchi Storico)

1 Orange Twist for Garnish

Ice

Instructions:

Add Mezcal, Campari or Top Note, and Vermouth to a mixing glass with ice.

Stir well (this may take some time)

Strain into a glass with a single, large ice cube.

Add orange twist.

The Mezcal Negroni is a refreshing take on a classic cocktail, but some may find the taste to be a bit harsh, if that is the case we recommend adding a dash of our Top Note Tonic Club Soda; this adds a refreshing spritz to your cocktail while still maintaining the pronounced flavors. If you want to browse some of our top quality artisan mixers for your at home bar you can view our entire product catalog here.

This simple sipper is perfect for when you crave the spice of a Whiskey Ginger and the warmth of an Old Fashioned.

Spooky Season Recipe:

2 oz Whiskey

.5 oz Top Note Ginger Beer Reduction*

3 dashes Aromatic Bitters

Garnish: dehydrated orange wheel

Stir all ingredients together with ice to chill, strain into a rocks glass with one big ice cube and garnish.

*Ginger Beer Reduction: Combine 1 bottle of Top Note Ginger Beer and ½ cup sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes or until reduced by half. Remove from heat and let cool. Keep refrigerated.

A classic Prohibition-era cocktail, the Bees Knees is traditionally shaken and served up, but we also love adding a bit of carbonation to liven it up and lengthen it out from time to time. In this variation, we combine a smooth barrel-aged gin with our ultra bubbly Club Soda No. 1 for a sweet, smoky and effervescent refresher.

Barrel & Bumble Recipe:

2 oz Barrel-Aged Gin

.75 oz Lemon Juice

.5 oz Honey Simple Syrup

Top Note Club Soda No. 1, to top

Garnish: lemon wheel

Stir all ingredients together in an ice-filled Collins glass and garnish.

Bolder than a Moscow Mule and with a bigger kick than a Whiskey Ginger, this simple cocktail holds nothing back in the flavor department.

Kentucky Mule Recipe:

2 oz Bourbon

.5 oz Lime Juice

4 oz Top Note Ginger Beer

Garnish: Lime Wedge, Fresh Mint

Stir all ingredients together in an ice-filled Mule mug or highball glass and garnish.

This classic needs no introduction! We love Mules for their simplicity but the mug really makes the drink feel special.

Moscow Mule Recipe:

2 oz Vodka

.5 oz Lime Juice

4 oz Top Note Ginger Beer

Garnish: Lime Wheel

Stir all ingredients together in an ice-filled Mule mug or highball glass and garnish.

Quench your thirst with this refreshing coffee-spiked Paloma. We recommend substituting part or all of the tequila with mezcal for a smoky spin!

Paloma Negra Recipe:

2 oz Tequila

1 oz Coffee Liqueur

1 oz Grapefruit Juice

3 oz Top Note Sparkling Grapefruit Soda

Garnish: Grapefruit Slice, Salt-Rimmed Glass (optional)

Rim a glass with lime or grapefruit and salt (optional) and fill with ice. Add all ingredients to your prepared glass, stir and garnish.

Our Indian Tonic Water is the perfect match for both coffee and amaro, so why not combine them into one deliciously low-proof cocktail? Customize the recipe by using your favorite coffee and amaro - so many combinations to try! Here’s a few suggestions to get you started:

• Dark Roast Espresso Blend & Amaro Montenegro: smoky, chocolatey, sweet vanilla

• Medium Roast Cold Brew Blend & Amaro Nardini: minty, chocolatey, smooth

• Light Roast Ethiopian Coffee & Zucca: fruity, floral, bright

• Chicory Coffee & Averna: nutty, herbaceous, licorice

  

Coffee & Amaro Tonic Recipe:

2 oz Cold Brew Coffee or Espresso

1 oz Italian Amaro

3 oz Top Note Indian Tonic Water

Garnish: Orange Wedge

Add Tonic Water and Amaro to an ice-filled glass, then slowly pour in coffee. Garnish and enjoy.

Our low-proof spin on the Shoeless Joe coffee cocktail is nothing short of a home run!

Shoeless Josephine Recipe:

2 oz Cold Brew Coffee or Espresso

1 oz Cherry Liqueur

4 oz Top Note Ginger Beer

Garnish: Cocktail Cherry

Stir all ingredients together in a glass with ice and garnish.

Can’t decide between coffee or a cocktail? Now you can have both! Any spirit will work fabulously in this recipe: try clear spirits like blanco tequila, pisco, and white rum for a lighter, fruitier cocktail and dark spirits like reposado tequila, whiskey, and aged rum for a smooth and smoky cocktail.

Spiked Coffee Tonic Recipe:

2 oz Spirit of Choice

2 oz Cold Brew Coffee or Espresso

.5 oz Simple Syrup, optional

2 oz Top Note Indian Tonic Water

Add Tonic Water, syrup and spirit of choice to an ice-filled glass, then slowly pour in coffee. Garnish if desired.

The Jungle Bird is a modern classic popular on craft cocktail menus and at tiki bars around the world. Our version swaps out Campari for Gentiana, adding a pleasant fizz while retaining the herbal bitterness of the original recipe.

Gentiana Jungle Bird Recipe:

1.5 oz dark rum

1.5 oz pineapple juice

.5 oz lime juice

.5 oz simple syrup

2 oz Top Note Gentiana Tonic Water

Garnish: dehydrated pineapple and maraschino cocktail cherry

Combine all ingredients except Tonic Water in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into an ice-filled glass. Top with Tonic Water, stir and garnish.