Paint the town red: Negroni week comes to Brisbane

From Jaffa cake negronis to slurpie versions, this year’s celebration will see the city’s best bartenders unleash their creativity.

Some of Brisbane’s best bartenders will paint the town red for Negroni Week this week – unleashing wild twists on the classic cocktail.

The Fish Lane Arts Precinct in South Brisbane will be home to the festivities until September 24, with venues hosting a feast of activities from pop-up bars to intimate dinners raising money for charity Slow Food.

Professional Negroni lover Nicole Pengilly and Bar Brutus bartender Mikayla Adams, promoting Negroni Week at Fish Lane. Picture: Matthew Poon

“With new venues opening in Fish Lane this year, Negroni Week has really stepped up with some terrific fresh events and lots to see and drink whether you’re new to the negroni or a connoisseur,” said event co-ordinator Amelia Taylor from Liquidity.

Mrs Taylor said one of the must-attend affairs would be a pop-up bar by Bar Brutus in Fish Lane’s Town Square, which proved so popular last year this time they have extended it to three nights. While other celebrations not to be missed include a dinner at Fish Lane’s newest bar Midtown with a flight of negronis and snacks, and the special Secret Handshake Trail, where all venues in the precinct will showcase their own unique twist on the negroni, from a chocolate orange version to a slurpie rendition.

“The bartenders in the precinct have really outdone themselves this year creating some seriously tasty tipples including a Jaffa cake negroni and a cold drip negroni with coffee,” Mrs Taylor said.

Venues participating in the week include Bar Brutus, Chu The Phat, Hello Please, Julius Pizzeria, Kiki Kiosk, Maeve Wine Bar, Maker Wine Bar, Saccharomyces, Southside, and Midtown.