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Sitting down to judge a Negroni cocktail competition, three other judges and I reach a quorum at 11 am before the first drink is served. “A perfect Negroni is simple, straightforward, and goddamn delicious,” I say, attempting to set the tone.” Any major deviations aren’t considered a Negroni,” I continue, as everyone nods in the back of Playground 2.0, ready to blind judge.
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But a Negroni competition is all about riffing on the classic, where appearance, creativity, aromatics, and flavor can win a bartender $1500 in scholarships. Previous years, everything from a beer-groni and a Capri-Sun-style presentation have won, this year we have no idea what’s in store.
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As they roll out, two are clear-washed versions, almost completely stripping the complex-bitter telltale properties of Campari from the drinks. Then there’s a great coffee-cube version from Rachel Keeney of Pie Society, a smoked-Abuelita chocolate riff from Bradley Eston at Navy Strength in Long Beach, and a stellar cherry version from Richard Henry at Studio of Montage. Then a showstopper happens: one served in a dimple mug, complete with a mosaic hop nugget and grapefruit peel as garnish that had notes of, “yes, I’d drink another one of these.”
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The winner, coming from Christian Zamudio from newly opened Twisted Tiki in Santa Ana, slayed with something simple. An IPA-inspired Negroni called the Jabroni that infuses Blinking Owl gin with grapefruit peel and pine-needles; two of the most common hop aromatics.
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“A friend of mine gave me a cocktail name first and was like, you should make a beer-inspired version of a Negroni,” says Christian Zamudio of Twisted Tiki in Santa Ana. “It’s a classic Negroni with a bit of an IPA twist,” he continues.
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I often say that the Negroni is the perfect bridge-cocktail for IPA fans to gravitate to with their perfect balance of sweet and bitter, and Zamudio concurs. “A Negroni is pretty fucking close, ya’ know,” adds Zamudio.
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Turns out, I was right. Simplicity at a Negroni competition still wins. Hop over to Twisted Tiki in Santa Ana and beg Christian Zamudio to stir you up a Jabroni soon.
Twisted Tiki is inside the McFadden Marketplace at 515 N Main St, Santa Ana, (657) 232-3338.
Greg Nagel has been writing about beer since 2011, is an avid homebrewer of wine, cider, and beer, is a certified Cicerone Beer Server, level 1 WSET in Wine, a podcaster with the Four Brewers Show, and runs a yearly beer festival called Firkfest happening on June 29th in Anaheim!
I am headed over to the Twisted Tiki this weekend for sure!