Five personalities, five chapters in the evolution of the cocktail, and around 200 guests. The closing night of this year’s Negroni Week at The Piano Bar Prague showed that the Negroni is much more than just an iconic combination of three ingredients. It is part of a bar culture that brings together generations of bartenders, venues, brands and lovers of fine drinks. Negroni After Hours became a celebration of this community – and a reminder that behind every great classic there are also people who breathe new life into it.
An evening where stories came together
Some cocktails need nothing more than a good recipe. Others have their own story, personality and place in a culture that extends far beyond them. The Negroni undoubtedly belongs to the latter group. Its characteristic bittersweet flavour has become the hallmark of bars around the world, and Campari is an integral part of it. Yet the Negroni is not merely a recipe passed down from generation to generation. It is also a space for creativity, personal interpretation and bringing together people who share a passion for the craft of bartending.
It was precisely this idea that was brought to Prague’s Piano Bar during the closing evening of this year’s Negroni Week, entitled ‘Negroni After Hours’, which took place on 19 October. Around two hundred guests gathered there to bring the week of celebrations for one of the world’s most iconic cocktails to a close. The evening brought together prominent figures from the Czech and Slovak bar scenes, representatives of bars, partners, friends and Negroni enthusiasts. Rather than merely being a showcase of cocktails, it offered, above all, an opportunity to meet in person, share experiences and reflect on what gives the bar community its strength.
This year, Negroni Week in the Czech Republic saw the participation of around 170 venues. Their involvement demonstrates that this is not merely an activity linked to a single brand or a single cocktail, but a joint initiative capable of uniting the diverse bar scene across venues and regions. Negroni After Hours was the natural culmination of these celebrations and, at the same time, a way of thanking everyone who took part.
Campari’s distributor, Ultra Premium Brands (UPB), also plays an important role in this approach, having long built on meaningful collaboration with brands and partners. It is not just about visibility, but about creating opportunities where people, experiences and stories naturally come together. Negroni After Hours was precisely such an event: the brands were not separated from the world of bars, but became part of the atmosphere created by the bartenders and venues themselves.
The Evolution of the Negroni: five chapters, five personalities
The highlight of the programme was The Evolution of the Negroni – five chapters, five guest bartenders and five different perspectives on a classic cocktail that offers a surprising amount of scope for personal interpretation. Each guest presented a drink linked to their personality, experience and approach to the bar craft. The result was not a competition for the best recipe, but a colourful showcase of how a single cocktail base can inspire different generations and styles.
The first chapter, ‘The Roots’, featured Václav Vojíř and his interpretation of the Americano. Vojíř is one of the most influential figures on the Czech bar scene, and his name is also linked to the history of Prague’s Bugsy’s Bar, which he founded in 1995 and, over the following decades, built into one of the icons of the Czech bar world. His ‘Americano Twist’ combined Campari with Bottega Cinzano 1757 Rosso vermouth and Perrier, garnished with an orange. It is the Americano that marks one of the key milestones on the path to the classic Negroni: proof that even a simple, tried-and-tested base can offer ample scope for a distinctive personal touch.
From its roots, the evening moved on to the chapter entitled ‘The Classic’, presented by Luboš Rácz, a respected figure on the Slovak bar scene. His ‘Hops Negroni’ showcased the classic in an interpretation that respects its character but isn’t afraid to explore new flavour combinations. Alongside Campari and Mermaid gin, it also featured Záhir Vermouth Blend and hop bitters. The result was a variation that served as a reminder that the Negroni need not be a static artefact. Its strength also lies in its ability to transform without losing its own identity.
The third stop, the Whisky Chapter, was hosted by Zdeněk Kortiš, a prominent figure in the whisky community and an expert whose name is also associated with The Black Stuff Irish Pub & Whisky Bar in Olomouc. For his 950 Boulevardier, he chose Campari, Bottega Cinzano 1757 Rosso vermouth and Aberlour A’bunadh whisky. The Boulevardier, a cousin of the Negroni, took on a more pronounced whisky character in this version, serving as a reminder of just how fundamentally the choice of spirit can transform the final character of a cocktail. This chapter was a celebration of the connection between two worlds that are closer to one another than might appear at first glance.
The fourth chapter, ‘The Mistake’, was introduced by Tomáš Ricciardi, who, since returning to the Czech Republic, has also been managing The Piano Bar Prague, the venue hosting the entire evening. His drink, the Alltimer, was based on the Negroni Sbagliato, a variation whose name refers to the mistake from which this cocktail classic was born. Alongside Campari and Bottega Cinzano 1757 Rosso vermouth, it featured Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto and mandarin-bergamot soda. The result was a refreshing and easy-to-drink interpretation, demonstrating that sometimes it is precisely an unexpected detour that paves the way to a new favourite drink. And at The Piano Bar Prague, where the story of the evening naturally intertwined with the personality of its host, this chapter took on yet another dimension.
The final part, ‘The New Chapter’, was led by Vítězslav Cirok, head of Becher’s Bar in Karlovy Vary and a barman whose professional experience includes, amongst other things, global successes at the Diageo Reserve World Class competition. His ‘Porn Star Negroni’ offered a contemporary, fresh take on a classic and demonstrated that the evolution of a cocktail need not merely involve minor tweaks to the original recipe. Campari, Bulldog gin, Fino Jarana sherry and Cinzano Rosso vermouth were complemented by passion fruit, vanilla and mint hydrosol. The result was a distinctly modern interpretation that combined the bitterness and structure of the classic Negroni with aromatic and fruity notes. This new chapter was thus not merely a promise for the future, but a concrete demonstration of how a classic cocktail can also appeal to a contemporary audience.
Before the guests delved into the individual chapters of the cocktail’s evolution, they were also given the opportunity to sample a welcome drink created by Milan Zaleš and Filip Jančárek, ambassadors for the Campari Group. Their ‘Lemonade Sbagliato’ proved very popular and, from the very first moments, set a light, approachable yet distinctive tone for the evening. It is precisely such details that remind us that a good bar experience does not begin with the first main course or a signature cocktail. It begins the moment a guest steps into the venue and is given the chance to become part of the story.
The community that brings the Negroni to life
Negroni After Hours wasn’t just about the five guest bartenders and their recipes. An important part of the programme was the open bar featuring a Negroni menu, which included the classic version, the Negroni Sbagliato, Tomáš Ricciardi’s ‘Alltimer’, and the aforementioned welcome drink by Milan Zaleš and Filip Jančárek. Guests were thus able to compare the different flavour profiles, return to their favourites and discover new variations to suit their mood.
The Pitstop Bar also attracted attention with two Ready to Serve options: the classic Negroni and the new Gloria Negroni. Whilst the Campari Negroni RTS offered another opportunity to savour the character of the Negroni in a convenient format, the Gloria Negroni captivated with its harmonious coffee twist. This part of the programme also confirmed that the world of the Negroni is constantly evolving and that there is room for new ideas alongside respect for tried-and-tested recipes.
The Negroni Community Art became a striking symbol of the evening’s community spirit. Guests could leave a signature, a message or their own drawing on the collaborative artwork. Each contribution thus became a small part of a shared memory of this year’s gathering.
It was precisely in these moments that it became clear that Negroni Week is not just about what goes into the glass. It is about the people behind the bar and in front of it, about sharing experiences, about inspiration, and about the relationships that are forged long after the last cocktail has been drunk. Bartenders who have shaped the Czech and Slovak scenes gathered in one place, alongside people from venues that actively took part in the celebrations, representatives of partners, and guests who simply love the Negroni and the atmosphere of a good bar. Sharing experiences and meeting face-to-face were just as important here as the drinks themselves.
“Negroni Week is meaningful above all thanks to the people who take part in it. Each venue brings its own perspective, creativity and energy. When everyone comes together in one place, it’s clear that the Negroni isn’t just an iconic cocktail, but also a strong community that inspires and drives each other forward. A huge thank you goes to all five guest personalities – Václav Vojíř, Luboš Rácz, Zdeněk Kortiš, Tomáš Ricciardi and Vítězslav Cirok – for their time, energy and willingness to share their own interpretations of cocktail classics with the community. Likewise, to Milan Zaleš and Filip Jančárek for the welcome drink, to The Piano Bar Prague for their hospitality and venue, to all our partners and, above all, to the approximately 170 venues across the Czech Republic that took part in Negroni Week this year. I would also like to thank all the visitors who created the atmosphere that turned the evening into a genuine community gathering. This year’s Negroni After Hours showed that the strength of a brand and a cocktail is not measured solely by their popularity, but also by their ability to bring people together,” said Vilma Kazdová, marketing manager for Campari Group brands in the Czech Republic.
Campari and the Negroni have a firm place in the history of bar culture, but their story is far from over. Every new interpretation, every participating venue and every personal encounter adds another chapter. And that’s precisely why it’s worth being there next time. If you missed Negroni Week this year or haven’t taken part yet, next year’s event is the perfect opportunity to join in. Because the best way to understand the Negroni is to taste it – and it’s even better to share it with people who know why it matters.
