With the weather starting to show us its warmer side and the days getting longer, it is the perfect time to shake off winter and head into spring, cocktail in hand. What better time, then, to embrace the negroni – a staple of the Italian aperitivo the world over – than during the perfectly-timed Negroni Week?

One of Canberra’s Favourite watering holes will be putting on an ode to the aperitif. Ovolo Hotels is celebrating Negroni Week in a big way, and they believe the beloved Italian cocktail – traditionally made with Campari, gin and vermouth – is best served smoky.

From 14-20 September, Monster Kitchen and Bar at Ovolo Nishi will be ‘up in smoke’, serving up a menu of six specialty negronis from Ovolo bars from here to Hong Kong.

Why not try the ‘smoked umeshu negroni’, with yuzu infused gin, umeshu, Campari and candied yuzu, hailing from the Monster kitchen right here in Canberra? Or, if you’re after something a little different, order the ‘smoked mole negroni’ from Te Quiero Muchu Bar in Hong Kong, which includes a pecan smoked blend of chilli, chocolate-infused mezcal, Campari and a dash of bitters.

You can feel good about embracing Negroni Week, too. Every purchase of an ‘Up in Smoke” negroni from the menu during the week will be donated to Help Out Hospo, a charity that provides support for struggling hospitality workers by providing trade secrets and video courses, with profits going to support workers impacted by COVID-19.

If you’d prefer to enjoy a smoky negroni in your own home, then don’t worry! Negronis are also available for takeaway. And if you’re in the mood for a different type of cocktail, check out these summery tipples from the Canberra Daily recipe archives.

Launched in 2013, Negroni Week is a celebration of one of the world’s great cocktails and an effort to raise money for charities around the world.

Since its humble beginnings, Negroni Week has grown from about 120 participating venues to over 12,000 venues around the world, and to date, they have collectively raised nearly $3 million for charitable causes.