If you’re reading this, you’ve made it through another day of isolation and social distancing. Cheers to that!

I adore happy hour and deeply miss enjoying a drink at the end of the day with someone whose company I enjoy. I know it’s not the same, but virtual happy hour is still a great option. Wind down your day by shaking things up a little. This negroni can be shaken or stirred and is best enjoyed with a friend.

Apéritif is a French word derived from the Latin verb aperire, which means "to open". An apéritif is an alcoholic beverage usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite, and is therefore usually dry rather than sweet. A negroni is a choice aperitif, with loads of herbs to wake up and cleanse the taste buds before dinner.

Negroni

1 oz smooth gin

1 oz Campari

1 oz sweet vermouth

Ice

Orange peel (for garnish) – I used grapefruit

Stir gin, Campari, and vermouth in a shaker or mixing glass filled partway with ice.

Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange twist.