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The Negroni Cocktail: A Rich History & Timeless Taste

The History of the Negroni

The Negroni cocktail, with its perfect balance of bitter, sweet, and herbal notes, stands as a timeless classic in the world of mixology. This iconic drink has a fascinating history, weaving together stories of Italian nobility, a penchant for bold flavors, and the artistry of expert bartenders. Join us on a journey through the origins, ingredients, and evolution of the Negroni cocktail.

The Birth of the Negroni

The Negroni cocktail traces its roots back to early 20th-century Italy. The story goes that it was in the bustling city of Florence, during the 1920s, that the Negroni was born. Count Camillo Negroni, a well-known figure in Italian society, frequented the Caffè Casoni, now known as Caffè Giacosa. One fateful day, he requested his Americano cocktail (Campari, Vermouth and soda) to be fortified with gin, creating a bolder, more spirited concoction. The bartender famously omitted the soda to create a short drink, and thus the legend was born.

What is in a Negroni?

The Negroni is a simple yet sophisticated cocktail, traditionally composed of three equal parts:

  1. Gin: The backbone of the Negroni, gin contributes a botanical complexity that complements the other ingredients perfectly.
  2. Campari: This vividly red liqueur provides the Negroni’s signature bitterness, balanced by a subtle sweetness and an array of herbal and citrus notes.
  3. Sweet Vermouth: Adding depth and richness, sweet vermouth infuses the Negroni with a mellow sweetness and a tapestry of nuanced flavors.

Method:

The preparation of a Negroni is as elegant as it is straightforward. Begin by filling an old fashioned glass with ice, then pour 75ml of Three Wrens Negroni over the ice. Stir gently to blend the drink, allowing the ingredients to harmonize without compromising their distinct characteristics. Finally, garnish with a sliver of orange zest

What does a Negroni taste like?

The Negroni is a strong and bitter aperitif cocktail, for the discerning palate. Expect big herbal notes and teeth clenching bitterness, each of our three expressions offer a different finish, to suit a multitude of tastes. Nick’s favourite is the smoked Negroni which gets its flavour from a flash infusion of Lapsang Suchong tea.

Conclusion

The Negroni cocktail, born from a moment of inspiration in a historic Italian cafe, has transcended time and borders to become a beloved libation worldwide. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the enduring appeal of a perfectly balanced cocktail. So, whether you’re sipping one on a sun-drenched terrace in Florence or in the comfort of your own home, the Negroni remains an emblem of sophistication and taste. Cheers to this enduring classic!

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Gin Tasting In Cheshire – What Makes Three Wrens Different?

At Three Wrens, alongside distilling our award-winning gin to sell, gin tasting are part of our DNA too. We pride ourselves in offering entertaining and unique experiences that are loved by couples, families, and friends alike. Operating since 2019 and credited as Cheshire’s #1 gin tour, our sessions take place every Saturday 4pm – 6pm at our distillery at Juniper House in Combermere. But what actually make our gin tasting sessions in Cheshire different, and why do our patrons think they’re the very best? Below, we’ll tell you the ins and outs.

What’s Included In Our Gin Tasting In Cheshire?

Firstly, if you want to book a gin tasting with us – you want to know what you’ll get, right? A traditional session with other, bigger brands may see you sampling just a few flavours before being sent on your way. At Three Wrens, that’s not our style. We’re so proud of what we’ve built that we want to show it off as much as we can, and our guests love that about us! Not only will you be offered six gin and tonics (we don’t do things by halves here) you can also enjoy a special seasonal welcome cocktail, get to meet our distiller, and enjoy a full tour of our brand new distillery whilst discovering the secrets of our best-selling gins.

What Makes Three Wrens Different?

There are no secrets here

Many of us enjoy a gin and tonic or two, but how many of you know what’s actually going into what you’re drinking? During our gin tasting sessions, you can also marvel at our botanical wall, which is very dear to us as it displays all of the ingredients that go into making our products. Lots of our produce is grown at our distillery, it really does go from garden to glass at Three Wrens, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Would another distiller give you an experience like that?

No need for a taxi

Booking on to a gin experience is great fun – but how do you get home after? Nobody wants to be the designated driver when there’s alcohol on the cards! One of the things we’re really pleased about at Three Wrens is that we’ve partnered up with the lovely local bus service ‘Go-Too’, who’ll take you to and from the distillery, including to Nantwich Train Station which is just 6 miles away. Whether you’re heading home or back to one of our recommended holiday providers, travel’s something you certainly don’t have to worry about when booking one of our gin tasting sessions.

Our customers rate us 5*

5/5 on TripAdvisor is hard to come by these days, but thanks to our amazing clientele, we’ve only gone and done it! We were also awarded the Travellers Choice in 2021, which is a real testament to the amazing gin tastings that the team put on. Our knowledge and passion for the gin industry is what, we think, makes our tastings and tours different. And if you’d like more proof that isn’t coming from our own mouths, then you could always head over to our TripAdvisor page where we have lots of lovely reviews from some very kind people.

A great experience and then some…

Finally, we weren’t kidding earlier when we said we don’t do things by half. Where on other gin tasting sessions in Cheshire you may be doing just and only that, at Three Wrens we go above and beyond, mixing a tour into your experience too. Our distillery, where we produce and send out all of our gins, is newly opened for 2022, so you can be amongst the first to take a peek behind the scenes, meet our friendly team, grab a drink at our all new bar area, and check out that botanical wall we mentioned. It’s all about creating an experience for our guests, so they come back again and again. This quite literally starts at the front door. You’ll be greeted by our distiller and team with your cocktail, before taking your place at our tasting tables. We don’t overbook our events so they’re purposefully relaxed with room to breathe. You’ll be introduced to the gins and our story at your table, which is where you’ll find a tasting mat, 6 full size gins, tonics, garnishes, ice bucket and tongs. After a little tasting you’ll be given the tours, before being able to enjoy the rest of your drinks in our relaxing and beautiful setting.

If all that sounds great and you’d like to book a gin tasting experience in Cheshire, then do come over and see us. Gin tasting and distillery tours take place every Saturday between 4pm and 6pm, and you can book online on our website, or buy a gift voucher if you feel like treating somebody else.

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Cheshire Hen Party Ideas – A Gin Distilling Experience At Three Wrens

How exciting is planning for a hen party? Creating the ideal itinerary for the upcoming bride and her girls for a weekend of dining, drinking, and dancing… There’s nothing like it! Many hen parties enjoy going to bars with sophisticated gins and cocktails, but have you considered creating your own drinks as part of the experience? If you’re on maid of honour duties and are looking for Cheshire hen party ideas, read on, because you’re in the right place.

Considering Three Wrens For Your Cheshire Hen Party Ideas

Our Gin Distilling Experience

During our one-of-a-kind gin distilling experience, the bride and her hens can explore our huge selection of rare and delicious botanicals (many of which are grown right outside of our distillery), then select which ones to use to create their very own one-of-a-kind craft gin. Sounds cool, doesn’t it? It is!

Not only is this a unique and memorable experience, but our new distillery also has 18 gleaming mini copper stills for you to get stuck in with – which, coincidentally, are also very ‘Instagrammable’ if we do say so ourselves!

So, What’s Involved?

A perfect Cheshire hen party idea, there’s so much involved within our distilling experiences. From when you all walk through the door, being welcomed with a seasonal cocktail on arrival, right up to when you leave with your very own gin in hand – our lovely team will make you feel special throughout the experience.

Our gin master will give you a tour of our distillery (which is newly opened for 2022), and take you through the process of developing your own personalised gin at your individual copper still.

You can then relax and enjoy the whole experience, exploring the different smells and tastes of gin to help develop something delicious you can enjoy over the rest of the weekend. Taking pictures and videos is very much encouraged by us throughout the visit, we love seeing how much fun you all have here.

You’ll also be able to enjoy some light bites and nibbles to keep you going whilst you’re at work! Plus, you can enjoy a drink (or several – we’re not counting!) whilst waiting for your creations to distil.

Staying Over In Cheshire Afterwards

There’s no need for a designated driver for our gin distilling experiences either, we have a number of nearby accommodation suppliers to turn your day into a whole weekend – it is a hen party after all! Our partnership with Go To Rural Buses will take you where you need to go in the area, so you needn’t worry with the stress of organising transport.

Booking Your Hen Party At Three Wrens

Every hen party will inevitably end up with a few G&T’s being poured – but few can claim to have made their own! We’ll always aim to give you an experience set above the rest, so if you’re looking for hen party ideas in Cheshire, then do consider letting us show you a good time.

Our gin distilling experiences take place every Saturday between 12pm – 3pm. To book your day now, head over to our website, and we really look forward to seeing you all soon!