Classic cocktail lovers, pull up a bar seat — this week marks the 12th annual Negroni Week.
This year, the Campari Group, in partnership with Imbibe Magazine and Slow Food, hosts Negroni Week from September 16 to 22, where you can try both inventive and traditional takes on the bitter-sweet drink and vote for your favorite variations. Download a curated map or follow this list to see which of the best bars in Philadelphia are participating in cocktail competitions and offering one-week-only drink specials.
In 2013, Imbibe Magazine launched Negroni Week as a celebration of one of the world’s best cocktails. In fact, the Negroni is the number one-selling cocktail in the world, according to Drinks International. Since then, Negroni Week has grown from about 120 participating venues to thousands around the world, including over 100 Philadelphia-area bars and restaurants.
“Philadelphia hospitality has such a wonderful sense of community and so much talent—both aspects make this city a perfect Negroni Week host,” said Wendy Caperonis, Philadelphia District Manager of Campari America. “We see so much collaboration from neighborhood to neighborhood; the Negronis our participants offer reflect the flavors, spirits, and energy of their menus.”
You can also enter to win a Campari prize pack by casting your vote for your favorite Negroni via the QR code on the map and sharing photos of it on social media by tagging @spritzandstir. One photo counts as one submission and the winner will be notified via Instagram DM on Wednesday, September 25. The six top-voted Negronis will move on to compete in a finalist competition, Negroni Gala at Midnight & The Wicked, on October 1. Part of Negroni Week’s mission is to raise money for Slow Food, an organization that not only advances cultural and biological diversity but also furthers community-based food and beverage education and knowledge exchange. This means your favorite bartenders can score education scholarships to experience the Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans and the Terra Madre conference in Italy.
Check out the full line-up of events here.