Negroni

Meet the Negroni: bold, bittersweet, effortlessly sophisticated, and basically the cocktail equivalent of someone who summers in Italy and doesn't feel the need to mention it.

It's our September Drink of the Month because as summer starts giving way to fall, we're ready for something with a little more depth and a lot more personality. Born in Florence, this Italian classic combines equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth into one beautifully balanced cocktail that's been turning heads for over a century. Three ingredients. Zero fuss. Plenty of attitude.

Why we love it:

It's bitter. It's bold. It's unapologetically itself. The gin brings the botanical bite, Campari delivers that signature bittersweet punch, and sweet vermouth smooths everything out. Add a twist of orange, and you've got a cocktail that's as beautiful as it is complex. It's an acquired taste, much like your favorite pickleball partner's unsolicited advice. But once it grows on you, there's no going back.

Recipe:

• 1 ounce gin

• 1 ounce Campari

• 1 ounce sweet vermouth

• Orange peel, for garnish

How to make it:

• Add gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice.

• Stir until well chilled, about 20 to 30 seconds.

• Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.

• Twist an orange peel over the glass to release its oils, then drop it in for garnish.

• Sip slowly, channel your inner Italian, and remember: a little bitterness is perfectly acceptable in your cocktail. On the court? Not so much.