While some remixes can be questionable (*cough* Britney Spears’ take on Elton’s hit ‘Tiny Dancer’), some are just as good, if not better, than the original. One of the most famous modern variations on a beloved classic, the White Negroni, is a delicious riff on the lionised Italian icon. Featuring gin and sweet vermouth, but replacing the stalwart Campari with gentian liqueur or Suze, this is one contemporary cocktail that honours the OG but is a smash-hit in its own right.
Invented in France by British bartender Wayne Collins, the White Negroni was fortuitously forged from a lack of options and keen instinct. In the summer of 2001, Wayne scoured the local Bordeaux supermarkets only to discover an array of rather obscure – at the time – French liqueurs. Without the ingredients for a standard Negroni, in a moment of inspiration, Wayne reached for the French aperitifs Suze and Lillet Blanc, and masterfully put his stamp on the classic. The rest is history.
The White Negroni is beloved in the aperitivo-loving world nearly two decades after its invention; still, it must be mentioned that its popularity was a slow burn. The fairer Negroni was far trickier to place on menus due to the simple fact that not many bars outside France readily had Suze or Lillet on hand. However, over time (and strategic ordering from its die-hard fanbase), the White Negroni gained traction and stature to be highlighted today on the menus of international venues in the know.
