We pick up the Dale/David Project tonight with the Negroni, an offshoot of the Americano Highball that replaces the club soda with gin. Little biographical information is given in Dale's first book, but he elaborates in The Essential Cocktail. According to Dale, the Negroni comes from the Casoni Bar in Florence, Italy, and was developed in the 1920's. A certain Count Camilo Negroni found the Americano too tame, as it is told, and asked that the drink be spiked with a splash of gin. The original recipe called for equal parts of Campari, Gin, and Sweet Vermouth. The cocktail degenerated over the years to a glass of gin (or sometimes, godforbid, vodka) with a splash of the two aperitifs.

Dale's recipe calls for an ounce each of Campari, Sweet Vermouth (we used Vya, which is not traditional but is still delicious), and Gin (Brokers used here. We also made a version with Beefeater and M&R). Served in a rocks glass and garnished with a flamed orange peel. (Gary Regan's Joy of Mixology recipe calls for 1.5 oz of each of these)