How to celebrate Negroni Week in Asheville

Original Article: How to celebrate Negroni Week in Asheville
BY AVL TODAY

What is a Negroni and why is it so special? Back in Florence, Italy in 1919, Count Camilo Negroni took his love for an Americano cocktail and had his bartender replace the soda water for gin. And, the rest is history.

This week June 24-30 is nationally known as Negroni Week – which started in 2013 as a way to celebrate this three-ingredient cocktail and give back to local charities. To date, Negroni Week has raised approximately $2 million for charitable causes.

And, Negroni Week gets pretty serious here in Asheville. On Monday was the Battle of the Negroni hosted by The Urban Gastronome and Antidote (151 Coxe Ave. #20). A panel of four judges (myself, Micah Molinari, Chris Faber + Jeff Irvin “Puff”) got to taste five Asheville-made gins and see who could make the best + creative Negroni.

The participating distilleries were Cultivated Cocktails, Sutler’s Spirit Co., Oak & Grist, Topo Distillery, and The Chemist. Each distillery made their own spin of the classic cocktail and each drink will be available at the Antidote all week long.