It’s time to celebrate 10 years of Negroni Week at The Oberoi Bengaluru with some special concoctions.
Gin has made a stunning comeback not just globally but also in India. The Indian revival has also been accompanied by the emergence of some outstanding homegrown gin brands like Stranger & Sons and Greater Than. The other distinct trend we’ve seen is the return to classic cocktails. While molecular cocktails had their Instagram moments, many cocktail connoisseurs have gone back to the comfort of classic cocktails. Both these trends have played a big part in the rise of the Negroni, a cocktail with a century-old legacy.
Rahul Tiwari helms The Polo Club, at The Oberoi Bengaluru. It isn’t just one of the most lively bars in the city but also one of the city’s most versatile. It’s an oasis of sorts during the day with lush views of the hotel gardens with an open-air patio for al fresco dining. The indoor area is the popular option once it’s time for the sundowners. We’re partial to the cosy green booths. The bar transitions from a laidback space that transports you to old Bangalore to a lively nightspot where talented local bands hold centre stage with an eclectic mix of jazz, soul, and classics.
The bar is frequented by Bengaluru’s well-heeled and the Negroni week is another excuse for these regulars to rediscover a classic cocktail. The Negroni was first mixed in Florence in 1919 at Caffe Casoni. Pascal Olivier Count de Negroni (a French General) asked the bartender to strengthen his favourite cocktail — the Americano — by adding gin instead of soda water. The bartender also switched the garnish from the traditional lemon used for an Americano with an orange. The Negroni had arrived.
Nearly 100 years later, Imbibe Magazine launched Negroni Week (in 2013) as a celebration of one of the world’s great cocktails and an effort to raise money for charitable causes around the world. Since then, Negroni Week has grown from about 120 participating venues to thousands of venues around the world. The Oberoi Bengaluru is one of these venues.
Rahul has been overwhelmed by the response to his menu which includes four Negronis. We enjoyed the ‘Afterhours Negroni’ that combines tequila, Campari, and vermouth with a brilliant interplay of flavours between cold brew coffee and pandan. But we still suspect that it’s the classic Negroni that is the bestseller at The Polo Club. Some classics never go out of fashion.
The Polo Club is at The Oberoi Bengaluru, MG Road. Phone – (080) 2558 5858
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