The Bronx Cocktail

The Bronx Cocktail is one of those pre-Prohibition, storied drinks with a history of dubious origin that people like to hear.  Perhaps not as well known as a Martini, the Bronx is said to have been created by Johnny Solon, at the Old Waldorf Astroria.  As one story goes, a customer challenged bartender Solon to create a new cocktail, stating such a feat could not be done.  The creative Solon had a "thought strike him," and apparently whipped up the Bronx on the spot, his hands no doubt guided by the booze gods and/or the desire to rise to the challege.  So, take the story for what it's worth.

The Bronx cocktail is made by combining the following in a ice-filled shaker, and is served in a cocktail glass:

   -  1.5 oz. gin
   -  .5 oz. sweet vermouth
   -  .5 oz dry vermouth
   -  1 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice.

I like to garnish with an orange peel, but you can use an orange slice if you're feeling cheeky.  As you can see, the Bronx is a perfect Martini with OJ added.  Please do yourself a favor and use freshly squeezed juice.  It does make a difference.  And, as one of the world's superior mixologist, Dale DeGroff, writes in his book, The Essential Cocktail:

"You're out of town.  You're wearing your best suit, and your shoes are freshly shined.  You haven't closed the deal, but you know that tomorrow you will.  So although it's premature to order the celebratory Champagne, it's exactly the right moment to order a traditional stiff drink at the five-star hotel's bar, taking your first deep, worry-free breath in what seems like forever.  And so you shoot your cuffs, rest your wingtip on the brass foot rail, and order a Bronx, just like the fat cats did from Johnny Solon, who supposedly invented the Bronx at the Waldorf.  Hold your chin high when you order your Bronx and imagine a long bar with no stools, a cigar counter at one end and an oyster counter at the other..."

Couldn't have said it better myself.  After all, every good cocktail needs a back story.

The Negroni: Classic Aperitif

The Negroni is one of the best aperitif cocktails around.  The drink is said to first made around 1925 in Florence, Italy when Count Camillo Negroni asked the innkeeper to put some gin in his Americano.  The resulting drink gained popularity and became known as the Negroni.  Obviously, the name stuck.

The Negroni is one of those cocktails that you need to be exact in your measurements.  A 1:1:1 ratio works best in my opinion:

- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1 ounce gin

You can serve it up in a cocktail glass, or as I prefer, on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass.  And, in my opinion the drink is not complete without an orange peel garnish (although I've seen lemon used, too).  Be sure to use a sharp knife when peeling your orange, and don't cut too deep or you'll get the bitter pith along with the peel. 

The Negroni is absolutely one of my favorite gin drinks, and certainly ranks in the top 3 in the pre-dinner cocktail category.  If you've never tried Campari before, you may be surprised by its bitterness.  While it may be an aquired taste by itself, it is certainly more approachable in the Negroni.  For those familiar with Campari (and gin and vermouth), you'll immediately understand that the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts.  Make this drink a familiar part of your cocktail rotation.