It’s hard to put into words what it is about the humble negroni that makes it such a beloved favourite – not just for us at The Weekend Edition office, but for millions of cocktail drinkers around the globe. It’s a simple recipe, comprised of vermouth rosso, dry gin and Campari, with an orange peel (or even a wedge, because why not) as garnish. But a negroni is more than the sum of its parts – it’s a special elixir that deserves its status at the top of the cocktail heap. We’re not the only ones to think this – Negroni Week is a, well, week-long celebration dedicated to the red-hued concoction. It started a decade ago as a global charity initiative that donates proceeds from negroni sales to worthy charities, which is a cause we can certainly get behind. This year Negroni Week (presented by Imbibe and Campari) falls on September 12–18, and the residents of South Brisbane’s Fish Lane Arts Precinct are electing to get into the spirit with a host of limited-edition cocktails and events to enjoy.

Fish Lane’s bars and eateries will be offering more than 40 special cocktails throughout Negroni Week, with variations including the Cherry Ripe Negroni (with Campari, cherry liqueur and chocolate bitters) at Bar Brutus, Maeve Wine Bar’s Rosella Negroni (Rosella vermouth, Bulldog gin and Campari) and the Jungle Bird (Campari, pineapple rum, lime, pineapple and sugar) from Kiki. There will even be a few negroni-inspired dishes to try out, like La Lune’s ceviche of kingfish with negroni gel and puffed rice, and negroni duck a l’orange, casserole style at Saccharomyces. As for negroni-themed happenings, the Julius Pizzeria and Bar Brutus team will host a Town Square Negroni Block Party from 4:00 pm on September 16–17, while Town Square will transform into Rome’s Bar San Calisto from 2:00–5:00 pm on Sunday September 18 for an aperitivo afternoon that includes a negroni on arrival and individual charcuterie. Negroni lovers will also be able to embark on a self-guided tour of Fish Lane for the ‘Secret Handshake’ Negroni Trail on September Saturday 17, which will see select venues offer up their negroni-inspired specials. Want to know more? Get all the tasty details on Negroni Week over at Fish Lane’s website.