Reuleaux Negroni
The Reuleaux triangle presents a nice opportunity for a “spin” on a classic three-part cocktail. The Negroni is one of those acquired taste cocktails that can set you apart from the vodka martini crowd if you want to act pretentious and impress your fellow puzzlers. It may be obvious by the number of Negroni variations I’ve featured on these pages, but I love them. It’s just so easy to play with the basic formula of gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, and the classic proportions are equal parts for all three ingredients, so pretty much any measuring device or container will serve you.
The Reuleaux cocktail
For the “Reuleaux Negroni” I really pushed the envelope – anchoring it with a base of mezcal and adding a few unusual items. For the vermouth, I used Cocchi Americano, a crisp and citrusy aperitif with flavors of cinchona (quinine) and for the amaro I used Meletti, a lesser known alternative to Campari. Meletti is unique as an amaro due to the prominent use of saffron in its flavor profile, and it is often described as caramel-y or chocolate-y. I love the bright orange notes as well. It really shines in this combination, but if you don’t have Meletti try Campari or Aperol instead. Stir things up and let the good times reuleaux! Cheers!
Take this pair for a spin!
Reuleaux Negroni:
1 oz Mezcal
1 oz Cocchi Americano
1 oz Meletti Amaro
Stir with ice to blend and dilute, then strain into a favorite glass. Garnish with a generous expressed orange peel and let the wheels in your brain start spinning.
For more Negroni variations see: