Our pick of top tipples this Negroni Week Napier
It's happening again, and it's bigger! Negroni Week Napier returns for its second year, and we couldn't be more excited.
Last year Vincent from Vinci's (with the support of his wife Nina) brought the idea to Napier, and the whole hospitality scene ran with it. The stories, reels and posts reached tens of thousands, and the week even made Hawke's Bay Today and the NZ Herald. This year there are nineteen venues, two award classes (Best Classic and Best Riff), and judges Amy and Gordon are back with their cameras and tasting notes.
Pick up your Wandering Menu from any of the participating venues and wander your way through the week.
Ahuriri — all six venues, all in the running 📍
CASA
🥃 Casa Negroni — the house classic, and the one we'll measure everything else against.
🥃 Olio & Cacao — cacao nib vermouth, fat-washed gin and heated orange peel. Rich, silky and a little bit dangerous.
🥃 Bianco — a white negroni with Hendrick's, Suze and bergamot liqueur. Floral, bright and far too easy to drink.
EAST PIER
🥃 Negroni Peach Spritz — peach, Martini Bianco and a splash of sparkle. The sunny-afternoon negroni.
MADAME SOCIAL
🥃 The Classic Negroni — Madame Social Gin, sweet vermouth and orange bitters. A proper classic, done properly, just as you'd expect from this team.
🥃 Coconut Temple Negroni — coconut fat-washed gin and house-made pandan vermouth. Tropical, unexpected, and we're already hooked.
MIX'D
This team has gone all out - but here are our two picks from their four offerings. A must-stop on your imbibing tour.
🥃 Spiced Marmalade & Mango Negroni — homemade marmalade gin, house mango Campari and a mango leather garnish. Yes please.
🥃 Toasted Coconut & Coffee Negroni — basically dessert in a glass and you'll love it if you're a sweet fan.
SHED 2 ON THE QUAY
🥃 Sour Negroni — Hastings Distillery gin, lemon and a foamy top. A negroni that's had a glow-up, thanks to Kat's expert touch.
THE GINTRAP
🥃 Four Pillars Spiced Negroni — warming spice with a hit of orange peel oil.
🥃 Orange Grove Negroni — orange, rhubarb and raspberry gin with Hastings Distillery L'Opera. Bright, berry and beautiful.
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Worth the trip into town 🚗
There are thirteen Napier City venues on the menu, and these are the ones we're most curious about.
CENTRAL FIRE STATION BISTRO
🥃 Mulled Wine Negroni — red wine syrup, charred blood orange vermouth and a brûléed blood orange slice. The cosiest thing on the menu and this is one we've got our eye on...
ROGUE HOP
🥃 Hopping Tiger Negroni — yes, there's IPA in it, plus elderflower liqueur. It's the wildcard of the week and we love it.
K KITCHEN & BAR
🥃 Smoked Salmon Negroni — smoked-salmon-infused whisky with a smoky spray. We had to read it twice too. But will you drink it twice...? Go find out!
🥃 Gari Negroni — gin infused with pickled ginger. Curious? Us too.
VINCI'S
🥃 Yuzu White Negroni — yuzu cordial, Suze and Dolin Blanc. Fresh, citrusy, and where it all began for Negroni Week.
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Grab your Wandering Menu from any participating venue and follow @negroni_week_napier on for updates through the week. We'll see you out there!
