Berlioni

About the Berlioni

A cousin of the Negroni more than a direct copy, the Berlioni swaps in Cynar for the usual Campari, pairing it with Timber Creek Florida Gin and a small pour of dry vermouth for a bittersweet, herbal, gin driven sipper finished with an orange twist. Cynar’s artichoke based bitterness reads earthier and less citrusy than Campari, which changes the whole character of the drink. Timber Creek Florida Gin is a good match for that shift because its botanicals, distilled with a lighter hand as part of the distillery’s grain to glass process, don’t compete with Cynar’s vegetal depth the way a more juniper heavy gin might. The small pour of dry vermouth rounds out the middle of the drink, keeping it from feeling too austere.

To build it, stir the gin, Cynar, and dry vermouth with ice until well chilled, then strain over a single large ice cube into a chilled rocks glass. Express the orange twist over the surface before adding it to the glass, since the citrus oil is doing real work to lift the drink’s earthier notes. Its bittersweet, herbal profile makes it a strong match for the suggested pairings of parmesan crisps, marinated olives, and grilled asparagus, all of which play well against Cynar’s vegetal character. Prosciutto and lemon chicken round out a light spread that won’t fight the drink for attention, making the Berlioni a solid choice for an evening built around small plates.

Bitter, low sugar cocktails like this one can be deceptively easy to keep sipping since they don’t taste overtly boozy, so pay attention to how much you’ve actually had, pace yourself accordingly, and make sure you have a safe way home when the evening winds down. Treat it as a slower sipper meant to open up gradually rather than something to rush through.

A cousin of the Negroni more than a direct copy, the Berlioni swaps in Cynar for the usual Campari, pairing it with Timber Creek Florida Gin and a small pour of dry vermouth for a bittersweet, herbal, gin driven sipper finished with an orange twist. Cynar’s artichoke based bitterness reads earthier and less citrusy than Campari, which changes the whole character of the drink. Timber Creek Florida Gin is a good match for that shift because its botanicals, distilled with a lighter hand as part of the distillery’s grain to glass process, don’t compete with Cynar’s vegetal depth the way a more juniper heavy gin might. The small pour of dry vermouth rounds out the middle of the drink, keeping it from feeling too austere.

To build it, stir the gin, Cynar, and dry vermouth with ice until well chilled, then strain over a single large ice cube into a chilled rocks glass. Express the orange twist over the surface before adding it to the glass, since the citrus oil is doing real work to lift the drink’s earthier notes. Its bittersweet, herbal profile makes it a strong match for the suggested pairings of parmesan crisps, marinated olives, and grilled asparagus, all of which play well against Cynar’s vegetal character. Prosciutto and lemon chicken round out a light spread that won’t fight the drink for attention, making the Berlioni a solid choice for an evening built around small plates.

Bitter, low sugar cocktails like this one can be deceptively easy to keep sipping since they don’t taste overtly boozy, so pay attention to how much you’ve actually had, pace yourself accordingly, and make sure you have a safe way home when the evening winds down. Treat it as a slower sipper meant to open up gradually rather than something to rush through.