For A Richer Negroni, Try Adding Sushi Rice (Seriously)

If you can believe it, the cocktail renaissance is now nearly in its third decade. Ordering a good stiff drink to kick off the night, or closing it out with a classic nightcap, is as common as perusing the wine list these days, and it seems like a new "speakeasy" pops up every week.

Cocktail trends come and go ... and then sometimes come back again, like the revival of the espresso martini, which doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime in 2023. There was also a brief period in 2022 when everyone was drinking a Negroni Sbagliato, which is made with Prosecco in place of gin and was made popular by "House of the Dragon" stars Olivia Cooke and Emma D'Arcy.

The originals never seem to go out of style, however, and you'll always be able to enjoy a dry martini, a perfect Manhattan, or a classic Negroni. True Negronis — the ones made with gin, not sparkling wine — have been having their own renaissance over the past few years, and you can celebrate Negroni Week every September. The Guardian even dubbed it "the cocktail of 2021" despite the fact that it was invented in 1919. A basic Negroni is made with gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, however, just like espresso martinis, the mixologists of the world have lots of ways to make their mark on this classic style.

With just three ingredients, it might surprise you to know that there are lots of ways to make a Negroni new and exciting, starting with choosing artisanal spirits like small-batch gins and specialty vermouths — both happen to be super trendy at the moment as well, which probably explains the rise of Negronis.

You can also experiment with infusing your spirits with herbs, spices, chilis, and even candy to come up with a unique base flavor. You could also try "fat washing" your spirits, which will take your trend factor to the next level. This process is done by infusing your alcohol with fats like olive oil, butter, bacon grease (and so on) and then freezing it to let the fat separate, rise to the top, and solidify. You then remove the fat by either scraping it off or using cheesecloth, leaving the rich flavor and mouthfeel behind in the booze.

One other new trend to create a richer, rounder Negroni, according to Punch, is to use some sushi rice in the mix. This little bartending hack, which is a bit like washing the drink with rice, will meld the flavors of the spirits together and give it a bit of creaminess.

Adding a bit of sushi rice to a cocktail is a simple way to give it a little more body and get the flavors to "stick," according to Punch. Leanne Favre of Winona's in Brooklyn says, "It softens the heat of the spirit and makes the flavors more cohesive."

All you need to do is add a tablespoon or two of cooked sushi rice to your mixing glass or cocktail shaker when you're building the drink, give it a stir, and strain it as you normally would. The starch from the rice will buff out the more bitter elements of the spirits, and give your concoction more of a horchata-like texture.

You can play around with adding more or less rice to your mix, and you can even try toasting the rice for a little extra flavor. Sushi rice has the most residual, sticky starch but you can also try using arborio and even basmati rice for some taste trials. Just be sure to serve your finished Negroni in the right glassware — an old fashioned glass. Plus, if you're going all out on cocktail ingredients and fancy techniques, don't stop at just the spirits; complete the presentation with a single, large craft ice cube, which will properly dilute your specialty sipper.