by Shaun Layton | If you like Italian-style cocktails and want to support dozens of different charities around the province, June 5-11 – aka Negroni Week – is a magical time. Launched by Imbibe Magazine and Campari in 2013, the week-long festival is now celebrated in bars and restaurants all over the world. It began with roughly 100 venues in the first year but has since exploded with over 6,000 in 2017, raising close to $1 million for various charities. It’s pretty impressive how a simple, three ingredient cocktail (Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Campari), has brought bartenders and customers around the world together for so many great causes. Participating venues will be stirring classic Negronis and their own signature variations all week. Here are five Vancouver establishments that are celebrating…

Merchants Workshop | 1590 Commercial Dr. | www.merchantsoysterbar.ca | If you follow their IG feed you may be obsessing about one if their burgers right now. Washing down all that meaty goodness with a classic Negroni would be a weekly tradition if I could handle it. Merchants has three Negroni variations available all week!
Charity: Aprons For Gloves | Cocktail: The Aztecan Negroni – cocoa nib-infused gin, Ancho Reyes, Aperol, Cinzano Rosso, Apothecary chocolate bitters.

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The Keefer Bar | 135 Keefer St. | www.thekeeferbar.ca | Hit Chinatown’s coolest patio (if you can get a seat) and order The Red Tiger. The bartenders here also make a great Americano (another low octane classic that blends Campari, sweet vermouth and soda).
Charity: Downtown Eastside Women’s Shelter | Cocktail: The Red Tiger — Campari, Tiger beer, Liefman’s fruit beer.

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L’Abattoir | 217 Carral St. | www.labattoir.ca | The smart move would be to go for Happy Hour and stuff your face! There are four cocktails on special for Negroni week, so food is mandatory if one wants to crush the whole menu.
Charity: BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre | Cocktail: Starkiller — Ramazzotti, Lillet Blanc, Campari, Ardbeg, lemon.

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Revel Room | 238 Abbott St. | www.revelroom.ca | I’m so going on Thursday for duelling pianos, always a hoot. Double fisting a classic Negroni and a local craft beer would be an allstar play, duelling cocktails!
Charity: Downtown Eastside Women’s Shelter | Cocktail: Galaxia Negroni – Mezcal, Dolin Dry, Dimensions Elixir, Absinthe, Campari moon rocks.

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The Dirty Apron | 540 Beatty St. | www.dirtyapron.com | Chris Chuy from Lavish Liquid and yours truly will be doing a special Negroni Week version of our Thirsty Thursdays class June 8th at The Dirty Apron. Guests will learn the history of the cocktail and some of its close relatives. All the delicious details are here.
Charity: Hives for Humanity | Cocktail: Negroni Sour — Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, lemon, strawberry, egg white.