The Negroni has gained something of a cult status in recent years, ushering in its fair share of strong opinions. In a possibly controversial move, bartender Naren Young loses the classic equal-parts ratio in favor of a more gin-heavy drink that dials back on the Campari and sweet vermouth. “It’s a little bit cleaner, not so sweet, not so saccharine,” he says of the drink, which he serves on tap at Dante.
As for his choice in spirits, Young sticks to classic benchmarks, like Campari and Martini & Rossi: “There’s nothing wrong with those stalwarts that’ve been around forever,” he explains. “People bag them because they’re big production or they’re mainstream, but they’re really well made and they’ve been around for over 100 years for a reason—because they’re very good.”