I can't imagine a better way to begin my Birthday week - and the fact that Negroni Week begins on my Birthday is even better! Negroni is certainly an acquired taste. Made with equal parts of Campari, gin and sweet vermouth, this drink has a strong and bitter taste - some have stated that it should be stored in a medicine cabinet!

Liquor.com states that the Negroni is one of the few cocktails with a traceable history that goes all the way back to the begining of 20th century. "Its origins are documented in the book Sulle Tracce del Conte: La Vera Storia del Cocktail Negroni, which was written by Lucca Picchi, head bartender at Caffe Rivoire in Florence, Italy. The drink was created at Bar Casoni in Florence, according to Picchi, when Count Camillo Negroni ordered an Americano—sweet vermouth, Campari and club soda—with gin swapped in for the standard soda."

The Negroni is once again in favor with mixologists, .joining both the Dry Martini and the Manhattan to form the Triple Crown of classic cocktails. Many attribute this newfound popularity to the fact that the beverage is incredibly well-balanced and that it's almost impossible to make badly. For more including participating restaurants and recipe read here.