While reading one of my many cocktail books (I believe it was Speakeasy) I came across some advice for creating drinks that has served as the basis for moving away from straight recipes to creating my own concoctions. The theory is tried and true, used by many of the greatest bartenders around, but astoundingly basic. Simply take a drink you know and simply change out one of the parts and see if it works. If it does, then congratulations, you’ve just made yourself a brand new drink! The book compared this to changing out the various parts on Mr. Potato Head. Hence, the Mr. Potato Head method for creating drinks*

One of the more storied classic cocktails to purportedly be born from the Mr. Potato Head method is the Negroni. Common myth is that Count Negroni orders an Americano, a drink of sweet vermouth, Campari, and soda, but the Count requested that the bartender substitute gin for the soda water. And thus the Negroni was (supposedly) born. The Negroni has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years in most corners of the world, except with me. While a gin and Campari is an ancient family drink, the Negroni just hasn’t been our speed. I, for no lack of trying, simply can’t get into vermouth. I may get there some day, just not now. So, I figured, what better way to celebrate the Negroni than to pull a Count Negroni and play Mr. Potato Head. What resulted was, in my opinion a phenomenal upgrade to the Negroni. Of course the color isn’t as alluring, but looks aren’t everything. Or at least that’s what my mom keeps telling me.

Classic Negroni

1 part sweet vermouth
1 part gin
1 part Campari

Serve in a chilled rocks glass, garnish with an orange peel.

My Negroni

1 part gin (Martin Miller or similar works well here)
1 part Campari
1 part Cynar

Serve in a chilled rocks glass, garnish with an orange peel.

Note: 1 part is typically 3/4 ounce.

Cynar is another bitter Italian liqueur, but made from artichokes. Cynar, while a bit hard to find, is well worth it. A Cynar on the rocks is impressively tasty.

*The Mr. Potato Head method provides you with the opportunity to become familiar with the how various ingredients interact with each other. I’ve found that playing with this has really done wonders to improve my appreciation for the balance of a well made drink. One downside to this method, its use is so widespread that most anything created this way has probably already been done before.