In Portugal, Campari is proudly represented by EMPOR Spirits, a 100% Portuguese company dedicated to the exclusive representation and distribution of beverages for over a decade.
The iconic Italian aperitif, Campari, is hosting the 11th edition of Negroni Week in Portugal. In partnership with various bars from North to South of the country, this week aims to celebrate one of the most beloved cocktails by bartenders worldwide.
Identified as the best-selling cocktail in 2022 by “Drinks International – Annual Brands Report,” the classic Negroni was already an icon in the world of mixology, but it only received the recognition it long deserved last year – both from the industry and the general public. The Negroni has become a protagonist in the world of cocktails, and it’s rare to find a spirits enthusiast who doesn’t know it.
Since its creation in 1919, Campari has been the “red heart” of the Negroni, a drink with a unique flavor profile – equal parts gin, vermouth, and Campari – and is now one of the most appreciated cocktails worldwide. The surge in Negroni’s popularity wouldn’t have been possible without the passion bartenders have for this cocktail, sharing their mixing skills with the Portuguese public and those who visit the “ateliers” where cocktail magic happens: the bars. This connection is at the core of Negroni Week 2023, strengthening the bond between Campari, bartenders, and Negroni fans in a global initiative.
During this special week, all partner bars will reinvent the Negroni and showcase their own signature twists, in addition to the original recipe. In the capital, Lisbon, the Red Frog Speakeasy / Monkey Mash bar is the Negroni embassy that celebrates the classic cocktail all year round. Bars like Kabuki Lisboa, JNcQUOI Asia, Imprensa Cocktail and Oyster Bar, and Liquid Love Cocktails and Food are also joining the most iconic week of the year.
In the Algarve, the embassy is the Columbus Culinary Bar in Faro, with partners throughout the district. Bars like The Argo Cocktail Bar, Vila Vita Parc, Bon Vivant Bar, Piper’s Irish Pub & Bar, Al Dente, and Spikes The Lounge will also showcase their mixology skills and unique twists.
Last but not least, in the North of the country, The Royal Cocktail Club is the embassy for this week, but bars like Angel’s Share – WOW, Setra Urban & Cocktail Bar, and Torto – Bistro & Bar are also on the Negroni Week route.
The slogan “There’s no Negroni without Campari” is the motto of this special week that celebrates the art of one of the most classic cocktails of all time. Created by Fosco Scarselli in 1919 in Florence, at his Café Casoni, the Negroni originated from a special request from a regular customer. Camilo Negroni, a Florentine count, asked the bartender to make his favorite cocktail, the Americano, stronger. Fosco decided to replace the soda water in the recipe with a “splash of gin” and added an orange slice instead of the usual lemon zest. And that’s how the Negroni was born.
