Negroni Week 2016: Drink Up for A Good Cause!

PUBLISHED June 6th, 2016 12:37 pm | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:26 pm

An initiative launched in the USA in 2013, Negroni Week – 6-12 June 2016 – is one of the largest international cocktail efforts to raise money for charitable causes. Presented by Campari (this classic tipple is typically one part gin, one part sweet vermouth, and one part Campari) and Imbibe Magazine, Negroni Week this year sees more than 5,900 bars participating all over the world, up from the 3,500 last year.

As one of the cocktail capitals in Asia, we’re proud to say that there are almost 40 local bars that hopped on this meaningful bandwagon. Since it’s happening over the whole of this week, here’s a suggested itinerary and some highlights for you to make a difference:

Tuesday, 7 June

A good place to kickstart Negroni Week is the behemoth of a culinary buzzpod of Marina Bay Sands (MBS). You could easily do a bar crawl, since celebrity restaurant bars like Bread Street Kitchen, DB Bistro, and Long Chim are also taking part. Highlights include Waku Ghin’s Aka Fuji ($21, includes cherry blossom liqueur) and DB Bistro’s The Bittersweet ($21, uses rye whisky). Bonus: it’s Social Hour on Tuesdays at MBS so you’ll get 50% off the bar’s signature cocktail too.

End off with a nightcap – with a side of spectacular views – at Cé La Vi. Go for their Barrel Aged Negroni ($24), which was aged in an American oak barrel for two weeks and carries more than a tinge of rounded smokiness.

You’ll contribute: $1 to The Singapore Association for the Deaf (Waku Ghin, DB Bistro, and Bread Street Kitchen), $1 to Children Charities Association (Long Chim), and $2 to the Blue Lip Campaign (Cé La Vi).

Wednesday, 8 June

If, for some reason, you can only spare one night to indulge in these lovely cocktails, let it be Wednesday because there’s loads happening.

At Sugarhall from 7pm to 12am, four bartenders will be serving their take on the Negroni. Try Kelly D’Cruz’s (The Secret Mermaid) refreshing Negroni Sour ($20), or Symphony Loo’s (Neon Pigeon) Teared Negroni ($20), prepared with sake and umeshu infused with plum, pineapple and rosemary. For something more robust, Sugarhall resident bar man Stuart Danker’s Kingston Negroni ($22) utilizes a Jamaican rum base, while The Cufflink Club’s Andrew Goodall will be presenting his Picante Negroni ($24), which features gin infused with red capsicums for a spicy kick.

You’ll contribute: $1 to the Community Chest Singapore with every Negroni purchased.

Across to Boat Quay, eight bartenders will take turns stirring their signature Negronis Ah Sam’s Cold Drink Stall from 8pm to 12 am. The line up includes Benedict Poh (formerly of The Horse’s Mouth) and Bryan Kishore (FRESH!), Sam Sim (Kite) and Shawn Kishore (FRESH!), Cherrie Soh (Humpback) and Charmaine Ann Thio (28 HongKong Street), and last but not least, Sam Wong and Martin Ambrose Liu (soon to be behind the bar at Employees Only).

You’ll contribute: to Ren Ci Hospital.

At Bitters & Love, head bartender Naz Arjuna kicks off the night at 7pm with his Nazgroni ($26) made with pandan and lemongrass infused gin served in glassware pre-smoked with hay for a smoky finish. Thereafter, three professionals – Shashi Nathan, a lawyer, Sihan Lee, a food writer, and Paul Ong, a banker) will continue 1-hour guest bartending shifts to continue raising money for the bar’s adopted charity, Action for Singapore Dogs. Plus, they’re letting people bring the pups to the bar on this special night – how cute is that?

You’ll contribute: $2 to Action for Singapore Dogs with every Negroni purchased.

Thursday, 9 June

It’s #thirstythursday for a reason. Meet fun and creative people at The Hive’s Thursday Social – $10 for three beers – before heading across the road to 28 HongKong Street for Logan Demmy’s The Breakfast Club ($19). Inspired by a traditional American breakfast, the cocktail features cold brew coffee, Applejack, and ginger syrup. Continue down the road to FOC, where the addition of artichoke liqueur, crème de cassis, and fresh grapefruit in Shafik’s carbonated Garibaldi Frizzante ($19) makes for a rounder, fruiter drink. End your night at Vasco just a few doors down, with Christian Hartmann’s Mexico ’70 ($23) that uses mezcal instead of gin for a smokiness that goes oh-so-well with the sprinkling of chocolate bitters.

You’ll contribute: $3 to Pangdemonium (28HKS), $2 to Children Cancer Foundation (FOC), and $1 to Food from the Heart (Vasco) with every Negroni purchased.

Friday, 10 June

Kick off the weekend with a T’groni ($18) by bartender Zac Lee at Tess Bar & Kitchen. Served warm, this floral twist on the Negroni sees the addition of chamomile, jasmine flowers and their house blended tea.

For a great Classic Negroni ($25) in town, stroll over to Haji Lane for Shin Gi Tai. With four years of fine-tuning a recipe, bartender-owner Anthony Zhong is the epitome of dedicated. Thereafter, cross the road to Unlisted Collection’s LongPlay for some sweet vinyl sounds and a Choloni ($20) by bartender Kannan Pillai, made with pisco, topped with Amargo Chuncho bitters (which is usually used in Pisco Sours).

You’ll contribute: $3 to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (Tess Bar), $2 to Noah’s Ark Companion Animal Rescue & Education Society (Shin Gi Tai), and $2 to Eden Schools (LongPlay) with every Negroni purchased.

Other bars taking part in Negroni Week that we haven’t mentioned include Manhattan, Gibson, Potato Head Folk, The Library, and more. For the full list of bars around the world, please see Negroni Week’s website.

Top Image: Davide Boncimino’s Sorrel Negroni at Limehouse

Photos: Cédric Vrolant