This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Negroni, a timeless tipple made with just three perfectly balanced ingredients. So when Negroni Week rolled around, we knew we had to go big or go home. To kick off the week, we threw a glamorous red carpet party at Casa la Palma.

With open doors leading out onto a brand new patio space, the second floor venue set the perfect scene for the swish soirée. To start the party, Campari mixologist Gerard Lad hosted a Negroni masterclass to teach 10 of our VVIPs the secret to perfecting the classic cocktail.

At the main bar, guests were able to choose between three Campari-based cocktails. An original Negroni kept things classic while a tiki iteration saw pineapple gin and toasted coconut Campari added in for a tropical twist. A Mezzanotte Stinger offered a sweeter, less boozy take with bourbon, lemon and mint. They say curiosity killed the cat, but our most adventurous guests stumbled upon a secret mini bar where Gerard Lad was mixing up a Cask Tales Negroni.

While guests sipped on their favourite style of Negroni, La Palma passed around highlights from their menu, including 100 layer lasagna, cacio e pepe pizza and ricotta gnocchi primavera.

After an evening of drinking and dining we capped it all off with a red and gold cake to wish the Negroni a happy birthday – and many more.

For our guide on where to celebrate Negroni Week, click here.

negroniweek.com