uncle negroni

2/3 oz Elijah Craig 12 Year Bourbon (3/4 oz Old Weller Antique 107)
1 oz Carpano Antica (Cocchi Sweet Vermouth)
3/4 oz Campari
1/2 oz Cynar
2 dash Molé Bitters (Bittermens)

Build in a double old fashioned glass, add ice, stir, and garnish with a dried orange slice (orange twist).
Two Thursdays ago, I ventured into Gary Regan's The Negroni book to see if there were any passed over recipes worth trying. The one that called out to me was the Uncle Negroni crafted by Michele Fiordoliva at Munich's Negroni Bar as her interpretation of what sort of Negroni an American might want. Utilizing Bourbon as an all-American spirit, the recipe seemed like an intriguing Boulevardier or Left Hand variation that reminded me of Backbar's Left Hand of Darkness. In the glass, the Uncle Negroni gave forth orange oil over some dark notes to the nose. Next, grape and malt on the sip led into whiskey and a mellow and rounded bitter flavor from the earthy Cynar balancing the sharper Campari on the swallow all followed by a chocolate finish.