The word ‘Negroni’ doesn’t usually conjure thoughts of a gold-hued drink with a twist of lemon, but we’re here to tell you it exists. The recognisable red cocktail has turned a light yellow, and to avoid any ordering confusion, the colour is specified in the name, too. This is the Yellow Negroni – and it tastes as bright and zesty as it looks.
The original red-tinted ingredient Campari has been traded here for another bitter, Suze. Opposed to the deep spicy notes of the Italian aperitif, the softer floral and citrus tones of the French liqueur made from gentian root makes for a honeyed sweetness. As a result, this is more akin to the White Negroni, again named to manage colour expectations.
The yellow is reinforced with more – you guessed it – yellow. There’s limoncello for a rounding citrus tone and Yellow Chartreuse for a soft herbaceous angle. Pisco, with its floral and bright notes, makes a suitable flip for what would normally be gin. The nod to the Negroni remains with a good dose of vermouth, albeit the bianco, to match the overall zesty character.
This Simon Difford invention wears ‘yellow’ on its sleeve as it joins the ranks of Negroni-adjacent cocktails. Covering thousands of cocktails across his career, the renowned drinks writer and publisher knows how to spell out what’s worth knowing – and that includes this Yellow Negroni.
