Participants will enjoy a Negroni tasting flight while learning about the cocktail’s rich history, basics, and answering the ultimate question, “Will it Negroni?” Don’t miss this chance to celebrate with fellow Negroni lovers and brush up on your cocktail skills!
The Negroni—a classic Italian cocktail known for its perfect balance of bitter, sweet, and herbal notes—has become a global favorite. Originating in early 20th-century Florence, this iconic drink is celebrated for its simplicity and elegance. This September, Portland is raising the bar with an extended celebration of Negroni Month, turning the global Negroni Week (September 16th – 22nd, 2024) into a month-long affair.
While Imbibe and Campari’s Negroni Week lasts one week, some of Portland’s very best bars and restaurants are extending the spirited festivities, offering unique Negroni variations and donating proceeds to local charities all month long.
Negroni Passport
ViA VECCHiA, an elegant Italian restaurant exuding old-world charm, is taking Negroni Month around the globe with its exciting “Negroni Tour of the World.” This sophisticated spot, known for its warm ambiance and classic Italian fare, invites cocktail enthusiasts to explore unique Negroni variations inspired by global flavors—all without leaving the Old Port. It’s the perfect setting to savor Negronis in style.
Here’s how the Negroni Passport works:
- Get Your Passport: Grab your Negroni Passport at ViA VECCHiA, which will serve as your guide through this flavorful journey.
- Taste and Stamp: Each Negroni variation, crafted to reflect different parts of the world, offers an opportunity to get your passport stamped. Savor these creative spins on the classic Italian cocktail while traveling through a diverse range of flavors.
- Complete the Tour: Finish the tour and earn your title as a true Negroni aficionado. Not only will you enjoy some amazing drinks, but you’ll also be contributing to a meaningful cause.
Similarly to Negroni Week, proceeds from the Negroni Passport sales will support Slow Food, a global movement dedicated to promoting food and beverage that benefits individuals, communities, and the planet. Slow Food works across more than 160 countries to advocate for good, clean, and fair food for everyone.
Bitter Ball Contest
After taking your Negroni Tour of the World, ViA VECCHiA has one more event to close out September in style: the first-ever Bitter Ball contest, happening Monday, September 30th. This lively competition and fundraiser brings together some of Maine’s top bartenders to showcase their creativity with internationally-themed Negronis.
Competitors will put their spin on the classic cocktail, imagining how it might taste if it originated outside of Italy. The rules are simple but flexible: each entry must include a base spirit, a bitter, a fortified wine, and a splash of Campari or Aperol. From there, it’s up to the bartenders’ imaginations—shaken, stirred, or even blended.
Five anonymous entries will be selected as finalists, with the competition unfolding in two exciting rounds. Guests and judges will sample the inventive Negronis, narrowing the field to two finalists who will go head-to-head for the $1,000 grand prize, bragging rights, and glory in the cocktail world.
Though entry is closed, readers can find more details about the contest and rules in Bitter Ball Contest: ViA VECCHiA’S Spirited Showdown for Negroni Glory
Negroni Month Fundraiser
What better way to celebrate Negroni Month than at the very distillery where one of its key ingredients is crafted? As the distillery that was built with the Negroni in mind, Hardshore Distilling Co. is turning its passion for this iconic cocktail into a community-driven effort to fight childhood hunger.
Throughout September 2024, Hardshore’s Negroni Month celebration invites you to visit participating bars and restaurants across Portland. Order a special Negroni made with Hardshore’s signature gin, and for every drink, both the venue and Hardshore will donate to Full Plates Full Potential or No Kid Hungry—two organizations focused on ensuring that no child in Maine or across the U.S. goes to bed hungry.
And the fun doesn’t stop with just a drink. Each participating venue will have a special QR code for you to scan after enjoying your Negroni. By registering, you’ll be entered to win a customized Yeti Hardshore Negroni Cooler, perfect for keeping your cocktail essentials cool. Plus, if you visit at least 12 participating locations and try their featured Negronis, you’ll earn a free Hardshore Negroni t-shirt.
Participating Portland Locations:
- $3 Dewey’s
- Anoche
- Bayside Bowl
- Bramhall
- Canopy Hotel (Salt Yard Cafe + Bar / Luna Rooftop Bar)
- Cocktail Mary
- DiMillo’s on the Water
- El Rayo Taqueria
- Eventide Oyster Co.
- Flatbread
- Gritty McDuff’s
- Hardshore Distilling Co.
- Lazzari
- Leisure Time Cocktail Co.
- Longfellow Hotel (Five of Clubs)
- Lucky Cheetah
- Night Mares
- Ocotillo
- Paper Tiger
- RiRa
- Room for Improvement
- Solo Italiano
- Terlingua
- The Honey Paw
For the full list of participating locations across Maine, visit Hardshore’s website.
Stir Up Fun: Additional Negroni Month Happenings
Join for a fun and interactive “Negronis with the Homies” cocktail class, led by the talented Marcus Alcantara of Camp Pennant and Paper Tiger! This event takes place on Saturday, September 21st, from 5-7pm at The Tasting Room on Forest Avenue, and is a perfect way to dive into the world of Negronis during Negroni Week 2024.
