Exploring the Evolving Popularity of Campari and Negroni Cocktails
Key Highlights :
At a time when Mumbai is experiencing an alcohol-forward approach to cocktails, mid-day.com spoke to Tommaso Cecca, global head of Camparino Bar in Milan, who was in Mumbai, about the popularity of Campari and its evolution over the years. Campari, the Italian alcoholic liqueur, was created by Gaspare Campari in 1860 and has since become a staple ingredient in many classic and modern cocktails.
Sitting in the heart of Milan, the renowned Camparino Bar recently appeared on the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2023. Two of the bar's top mixologists, Saverio Casella and Tommaso Cecca, recently visited Mumbai to conduct a masterclass and bar takeover at Hakkasan. While the rain played spoiled sport leading them to reschedule their expert class, their takeover gave city drinkers a taste of the classic red liqueur from Italy, but in unique cocktails, including the classic Negroni.
Mid-day.com spoke to Cecca to learn more about how he has seen Campari evolve as an ingredient in cocktails, as well as its popularity and usage to create unique cocktails. Cecca shared that the cocktail philosophy, whether traditional or innovative, remains resolute, creating resonant and meaningful connections between flavours and settings. He is intrigued by the potential fusion of Campari's bitter complexity with the vibrant and aromatic notes of spices to create a captivating interplay, offering a unique sensory experience.
When it comes to experimenting with Campari and Indian flavours, Cecca believes that these flavours have the potential to create a captivating interplay, offering a unique sensory experience. He also noted the difference in the drinking culture between Italy and the UK, with Italy being quite rudimentary in terms of cocktails 24 years ago, taking cues primarily from the American style. However, Cecca proudly asserts that the Italian scene has significantly evolved in crafting cocktails.
Misconceptions about Campari persist among both drinkers and bartenders, with a common myth being that Campari can only be paired with specific ingredients. However, local bartenders can ingeniously blend Campari with regional products to create distinctively flavoured Negronis, showcasing its versatile potential.
Being recognised in the World's Best 50 Bars is a testament to the Camparino Bar's core values, centred around humanity and the contributions of its dedicated team members. The bar is often fully booked, with reservations stretching two months ahead, and they serve over a thousand cocktails daily, a remarkable achievement that reflects the collective efforts of their dedicated team.
When it comes to crafting cocktails, Cecca notes that the industry is evolving every day with new trends. One significant global trend is the enduring popularity of the Negroni, which has become the best-selling cocktail worldwide. This trend speaks to the appeal of vintage cocktails, and it's not just about using vintage ingredients or relying on old formulas, but rather about creating a vintage Negroni using modern spirits and aging methods, resulting in unique variations based on different locations.
Overall, Campari has evolved over the years to become a popular ingredient in many classic and modern cocktails. With the growing popularity of alcohol-forward cocktails in Mumbai, Campari is a great ingredient to experiment with to create unique and delicious concoctions.
