Negroni Nocturne — Aged Gin, Rum Oak and Bittersweet Depth
What You’ll Need:
A Deer Jimmy’s® bottle filled with gin and aged on ex-rum barrel chips. After aging: Campari, sweet vermouth, ice, a mixing glass, and a rocks glass or short tumbler.
Step One: Let the Oak Add a Twist
The Negroni is sharp by nature — equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. But what happens when your gin is aged on rum-soaked oak? It softens, deepens and transforms. Start by aging your gin in a Deer Jimmy’s® bottle with chips from a tropical ex-rum barrel. Over time, the wood will add soft spice, molasses warmth, and a roundness that cools Campari’s bite without killing its edge.
Step Two: Stir in the Shadows
Once your aged gin is ready — smooth, aromatic, and just a touch darker — it’s time to build. Combine it with equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth in a mixing glass. Drop in ice and stir slowly. No rush. This is a cocktail that likes the dark. It tastes better after a quiet moment of stillness. Strain into a chilled rocks glass over a large cube and watch the color settle into deep ruby red — darker than usual, and far more inviting.
Step Three: Taste the Dusk
Take your time with the first sip. You’ll get the familiar Negroni backbone, but with unexpected richness. The rum oak rounds off the bitterness, softens the vermouth, and gives the drink a low, almost smoky hum. You’ll taste orange peel and clove, molasses and forest floor. It’s like a Negroni dressed for a midnight rooftop — less summer spritz, more after-dark ritual.
The Classic, Grown Up
Negroni Nocturne is more than a twist. It’s a deep dive into what happens when time, oak and gin share space. The bitterness is still there. The boldness remains. But the edges are worn smooth, the center pulled inward. It’s not about changing the Negroni — it’s about aging it into something worth listening to.
