The Art of the Nightcap, Volume 7: The Negroni
PART WORKSHOP. PART HAPPY HOUR. PULL UP A STOOL.
Every great cocktail has a moment — the precise shake or stir, the measured pour, the final flourish across the top. The difference between ordinary and exceptional lives in those details.
Art of the Nightcap at Granada Hotel in downtown San Luis Obispo is our invitation to pull up a stool and see how it’s done. This intimate cocktail workshop celebrates the drinks that define the evening. Led by Nightcap’s expert mixologists, each one-hour session spotlights a single cocktail family, sharing the craft, history, and subtle techniques that turn a good drink into a great one — with just a touch of theatre along the way.
Each one-hour session traces a cocktail from its classic roots to Nightcap’s elevated take. Guests will enjoy a guided demonstration, taste components along the way, and end the class with the finished Nightcap creation in hand.
For our seventh installment on September 30, we will move to the Negroni.
Why the Negromi?
There’s a reason the Negroni has remained a cocktail-bar classic for more than a century. Equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth come together in a drink that is bitter, herbal, citrusy, and perfectly balanced.
First mixed in Florence in the early 1900s, the Negroni was born from a simple request: make a classic Americano a little stronger. The result was a cocktail with a character all its own—bold enough to stand on its own, yet balanced enough to become an effortless aperitif.
Part of the Negroni’s appeal is its simplicity. Three ingredients, one equal-parts formula, and a quick stir are all it takes. But within that simplicity is plenty of room for expression.
It’s bitter without being overpowering, sophisticated without being fussy, and just as at home before dinner as it is as a nightcap.
What to Expect at the Workshop
Part workshop, part happy hour, this immersive session invites you behind the bar to explore the craft of the Negroni. Guided by our bar team, you’ll learn how to execute this classic with confidence, and how subtle shifts in technique and proportion can completely transform the final drink.
Throughout the evening, guests will:
Explore the history and evolution of the Negroni and its place in cocktail culture.
Taste the essential components of the classic Negroni, from botanical gin to bitter Campari and sweet vermouth.
Master the proper technique for measuring, stirring, and straining to achieve the ideal balance, dilution, and texture.
Learn how to balance bitterness, sweetness, and botanicals to create a perfectly composed Negroni.
Discover the art of cocktail clarification and how the technique transforms a classic Negroni’s texture, appearance, and flavor.
Finish the evening with a clarified Negroni, putting the techniques learned throughout the class into practice.
By the end of the class, you’ll leave with:
A Nightcap’s secret recipe
The confidence to order (or make) it exactly right
Seats are limited and available for $50 per person. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or just getting started, this is your chance to stir, sip, and discover the art behind the perfect Negroni.