The classic Negroni is enjoying a boom in popularity, and cocktail lovers around the world are getting acquainted with this enduring drink, including making it at home. The basic Negroni is made of gin, vermouth rosso, and Campari, and is always garnished with an orange peel, which does a lot more for the drink than sit there and look pretty.

Any bartender can tell you that a garnish isn't an afterthought, but an important part of the overall cocktail experience. The perfect orange peel for a Negroni is cut using a “rustic swath,” achieved by using a peeler or cheese slicer to cut the skin of the orange so you get a thin strip of the aromatic zest without a lot of the white, bitter pith.

Once your Negroni is poured over ice, "express" your orange garnish, which means holding the peel over the glass and twisting it to release the citrus oils. After that, don't rub the peel on the rim of the glass, which will numb your mouth; just place it into the drink vertically with the orange side against the glass, for an attractive look and great aroma.