Any drink that asks us to rinse our glass with moonshine deserves respect. After completing this intriguing step, the rest looks mostly familiar to a negroni cocktail recipe: gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth take the lead. However, a Pinot noir reduction, made by gently simmering red wine and sugar until syrupy, adds a little symphony of unexpected flavor notes to this cocktail, even as it intensifies its red color. Let your nose do some of the work here: the bouquet is worth a moment of appreciation.
Traditionally speaking, the Negroni uses equal parts Campari, gin, and sweet red vermouth and always comes with an orange wheel garnish.
What Does Rinsing a Glass with Moonshine Do?
Rinsing a glass with moonshine is a technique in some cocktail recipes to add a subtle flavor and complex aroma to the drink. It is similar to rinsing a glass with absinthe in a sazerac cocktail. In the Blood Moon Negroni, the moonshine is swirled around the glass to coat the inside, then the excess is discarded. This leaves a trace of the moonshine’s flavor and aroma, which can enhance the overall drinking experience especially with simple cocktails. However, moonshine is one you want to use sparingly thanks to its high-proof alcohol.
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Blood Moon Negroni
Description
Moonshine and a negroni? It’s a better pairing than you may think.
Ingredients
- ¼ oz Saint Luna Moonshine
- 1 oz Bluecoat Gin
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
- ½ oz pinot noir reduction
- 3 dashes orange bitters
- Blood orange for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse the glass with moonshine.
- Shake the remaining ingredients with ice.
- Pour over a round cube in a double old-fashioned glass.
- Garnish Negroni cocktail with a blood orange wheel, dried or fresh.
Recipe by Dan Ball, Hyeholde Mixologist
Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Dave Bryce
Produced by Star Laliberte
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