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Australian Vermouth Regal Rogue Puts a Local Twist on Negroni Month

Agent99

Key Facts:

Founded in Australia in 2011, Regal Rogue takes the traditions of European vermouth and gives them a new-world Australian spin, blending sustainably farmed organic Australian wine, native Australian botanicals and a natural style to their range

Award-winning Australian vermouth Regal Rogue is celebrating Negroni Month with a native botanical take on the classic cocktail, plus special serves pouring at leading bars across the country

One of the world’s most recognisable cocktails is getting an Australian twist this September, as Regal Rogue brings native botanicals, organic Australian wine and a distinctly local flavour to Negroni Month.

The month-long celebration will culminate in Negroni Week from 21–27 September, when bars around the world turn their attention to the iconic equal-parts combination of gin, Campari and vermouth.

For Regal Rogue, the month is an opportunity to put vermouth back in the spotlight and draw attention to the often-overlooked third of the globally adored classic three-part cocktail.

Founded in Australia in 2011, Regal Rogue takes the traditions of European vermouth and gives them a new-world Australian spin, blending sustainably farmed organic Australian wine, native Australian botanicals and a natural style to their range

For a classic Negroni, it’s Regal Rogue Bold Red doing the heavy lifting. Unlike the traditionally sweet red vermouths often found in the drink, Bold Red is semi-dry and made with organic Shiraz and unwooded Chardonnay from Orange, NSW, layered with native pepperberry, wattleseed and native thyme alongside cinnamon, star anise, ginger, bitter orange, dried fig and cherry. The result is a richer, spiced and fruit-driven take on the Negroni without pushing the cocktail too far into sweet territory.

For a summer twist, it’s the Regal Rogue Wild Rosé doing the lighter lifting. The Wild Rosé is also a semi-dry made with organic Cabernet Rosé from Orange, NSW, with native Strawberry Gum, Rosella and Illawara Plum alongside Rhubarb, Vanilla and thyme. 

Regal Rogue Founder Mark Ward said the simplicity of the Negroni is exactly what makes the choice of vermouth so important.

“A Negroni only has three ingredients, so there’s nowhere for any of them to hide. The vermouth has a huge influence on the final drink, and Bold Red was designed to bring a drier style, aromatic spice and the flavours of Australian native botanicals into the glass to let all the other ingredients shine alongside Regal Rogue. It’s a classic cocktail that people know and love globally, but changing the vermouth is an incredibly simple way to experience it differently.”

MAKE IT AT HOME: THE REGAL ROGUE BOLD NEGRONI

You don’t need professional bartending credentials to get involved. Regal Rogue’s signature serve sticks to the Negroni’s famously simple equal-parts formula:

25ml Regal Rogue Bold Red
25ml gin
25ml Campari

Add all three ingredients to a tumbler over ice and stir for 18 seconds. Garnish with a large ruby red grapefruit wedge.

THE REGAL ROGUE WILD NEGRONI

25ml Regal Rogue Wild Rosé
25ml gin
25ml Campari

 

OR LET SOMEONE ELSE MAKE IT FOR YOU

For those who would rather leave cocktails to the professionals, Regal Rogue will also be appearing in Negroni serves at venues around Australia throughout September.

In Sydney, drinkers can find Regal Rogue at Apollonia, Chin Chin, KISA and Golden Age Cinema, while Melbourne venues Beverly and Bar Ampere and Brisbane’s Miss Demeanour are among those getting behind the month.

Regal Rogue also has an established home across the House Made Hospitality portfolio in Sydney, where it is brand-called on menus at Apollonia, Lana, Martinez, Island Radio and Vitelli’s Upstairs.

It is particularly prominent at Apollonia, the subterranean cocktail bar beneath Hinchcliff House, where Regal Rogue features across several cocktails. The bar’s house Negroni pairs Brookie’s Excise Strength Gin, Regal Rogue Bold Red and Campari, putting an Australian stamp on all three parts of the classic serve.

So, whether you’re ordering one across the bar or mixing equal parts at home, this Negroni Month might be the time to pay a little more attention to what’s sitting between the gin and Campari.

About us:

Founded in Australia in 2011, Regal Rogue takes the traditions of European vermouth and gives them a new-world Australian spin, blending sustainably farmed organic Australian wine, native Australian botanicals and a natural style to their range

Contact details:

[email protected]