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One of our most popular cocktails from Thanksgiving through to the end of the December holiday period. Reminiscent of a brandy-based Negroni served straight-up...
I almost forgot, I bartended a Christmas party once and I used this cocktail. People really enjoyed it. So huge props and credit to Devis d'Ercole for this libation.
I wouldn't compare this to a Negroni (one of my favorites) but I think it's a more genteel version of a Boulevardier. The cognac doesn't pack the punch of the bonded and cask strength Bourbons I usually use. I did enjoy this cocktail, though.
Tried both spec and CB’s Valentino style. Reading the description for Martini rubino vermouth, I split the Campari with Select, actual vermouth was carpano. Two dashes of my favourite Bitter Truth orange bitters. Wonderful orange notes balancing the richness and bittersweetness of the other ingredients. I combined remy Martin and Camus cognacs to happy effect. A fitting celebratory libation for the end of my working year!
My Holiday Special Edition Celebration, which was as dark as a Manhattan, consisted of Camus VSOP "Elegance," Tempus Fugit Gran Classico Bitter, and Tempus Fugit Alessio Rosso Vermouth in 3:2:2 proportions, with Angostura Orange Bitters. As Kristi remarked, "This is NOT for amateurs!"
If you like a Negroni, you'll like it. If you don't, you won't. Personally I think Negroni's are too bitter so I doubled the cognac and added a skosh of Licor 43 to "simulate" the flavours of Carpano Antica. Still a bit too bitter but a lot more to my style.
Very good as written but also works great Valentino-style with (2:1:1) proportions (1.5 oz cognac, 3/4 oz each vermouth and red bitter). Used Antica Formula and Martini & Rossi Riserva Speciale Bitter. Served it in DOF glasses with both orange and lemon twists. Excellent!
I just made this using your proportions and it was delicious and very balanced. We'll be using this recipe often throughout the winter holidays, I think.
If you want to step more away from that sweet, Negroni-like profile, and for an extra layer of flavor, I'd suggest splitting the red bitter liqueur to allow for that darker taste of coffee liqueur. So try 3/4 oz red bitter liqueur and 1/4 oz coffee liqueur.
This was good and added a nice subtlety to the cousin Negroni. The cognac vs the gin drew more of the fruit out of each of the sweet vermouth and the Campari. I do like it, but not sure I would run to this when after this flavour profile.
Very nice addition to my repertoire of equal parts cocktails! I think the Vermouth is key to how sweet it is. I used Vermut Lustau, which is a nice Spanish vermouth.