The 2002 National Negroni Week runs from September 12th-18th, with celebrants meeting at their favorite watering holes to toast.

Negroni Week was established in 2013 by Imbibe Magazine and Campari, as a celebration of one of the world’s great cocktails. It also raises money for charity.

In 2013, the Negroni was the World’s #2 cocktail. This year, it’s moved up to #1 according to Drinks International, followed by the Old Fashioned, Dry Martini, and Margarita.

Call up your fellow revelers and get together this week for a Negroni or two.

But what if you’re not drinking alcohol? Head to the next section.

> Here’s the original recipe (gin, Campari, sweet vermouth) and the history of the Negroni.

> Negroni food pairings.
 
 
LYRE’S NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS

According to NielsenIQ, U.S. retail sales of non-alcoholic spirits grew 116% to $4.5 million this year. That’s quite a trend line!

Head to Lyres.com to discover an exciting world of elegant, sophisticated non-alcoholic spirits. You can make a zero-alcohol Negroni (photo #1) or any of your favorite cocktails.

Many years in the making, Lyre’s exquisite range of lovingly crafted zero-alcohol drink options was created to give people the freedom to enjoy spirits and cocktails with no alcohol.

The spirits and liqueurs* have classic bouquets and flavors and a rich mouthfeel, with length on the palate—just like conventional spirits.

There is an extensive range of non-alcoholic options. Note that the products can’t be called tequila, rum, etc. so have been cleverly renamed.

 
The packaging is top quality, with beautiful graphics.

The line has won numerous awards in international spirits competitions, often competing in categories with conventional spirits.
 
 
A NEGRONI GIFT SET

In addition to more non-alcoholic spirits than you could hope for, there’s a special Negroni Set (photo #2) consisting of three varieties to mix together:

 
There are other gift sets and even canned cocktails.
 
 
HOW IS LYRE’S MADE?

“Lyre’s is incredibly challenging to craft,” states the brand, from the expert deconstruction of the elements that create the classic flavors, to the meticulous sourcing of every all-natural, unique essence, extract, and distillate from around the globe.

It’s a proprietary process, of course. The result is a premium (yet affordable) product that is gratefully enjoyed by non-drinkers.

Lyre’s was founded by two Australians living in the U.K. The headquarters are in London, with offices around the world.

Lyre’s is made in Leicestershire, United Kingdom, Melbourne, Australia, and Montreal, Canada.
 
 
WHAT ABOUT THE NAME?

When we first heard the name, we envisioned the stringed musical instrument created in ancient Greece. It seemed fitting to have something classic and musical to describe the brand.

The brand name, however, has a different, if equally charming, provenance. It was inspired by the Australian Lyrebird, the world’s greatest mimic. It can mimic all kinds of sounds: other birdsong, even the ring of a mobile phone. You can see the bird here.

The Lyre’s team has worked hard to make its non-alcoholic spirits mimic classic spirits.

They have done a great job!

[1] A Negroni made with Lyre’s spirits (all photos © Lyre’s).

[2] You can buy the Negroni ingredients in a set.

[3] American malt whiskey-type spirit on the rocks.

[4] A zero-alcohol version of an Aperol Spritz.

[5] How about a Piña Colada?

________________

*In the umbrella category of alcoholic drinks, spirits and liquor are the same thing: the hardest alcohol product (often 40% A.B.V. and above) made by distillation. It can be flavored (e.g. spiced rum) but is always unsweetened. Liqueur, on the other hand, is a sweetened alcoholic product made from liquor. It is typically flavored (think amaretto [almond], crème de cacao [chocolate], triple sec [orange]), and is generally lower proof (e.g. 30% A.B.V.). Here’s the difference between a liqueur and a cordial.

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[1] Chocolate hazelnut Bourbon milkshake. The recipe is at right. (photo © Gelson’s Markets | Facebook).

[2] Nutella for the shake (photo © Mikael Stenberg | Unsplash).

[3] Chocolate fruitcake shakes. Here’s the recipe (photos #3 and #4 © American Heritage Chocolate).

[4] How about a chocolate cookie milkshake? Toss a few Oreos or Famous Chocolate Wafers into the blender.

September 12th is National Chocolate Milkshake Day, and here’s a shocker: This milkshake started life as an alcoholic drink, along the lines of eggnog The first printed reference dates to 1885, and it wasn’t until 1922 that the ice cream milkshake was born.

There are 19 more milkshake recipes below.

> Here’s the history of the milkshake.

> The differences between a float, ice cream soda and shake.
 
 
RECIPE: CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT-BOURBON MILKSHAKE

We adapted this recipe from Gelson’s Markets, who adapted it from The New York Times.

The recipe is a hybrid: the alcohol of the early days with the ice cream shake we know and love.

 
Note that your shake will be more creamy if you use custard-based ice cream (one made with eggs, like Ben & Jerry’s, Häagen-Dazs, and Talenti, among others).
 
Ingredients Per Serving

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE the milk, Bourbon, Nutella, and malted milk powder in a blender. Blend on medium speed until the Nutella is incorporated and the mixture is smooth.

2. ADD the ice cream and blend until creamy. Pour into a chilled sundae glass.
 
 
19 MORE MILKSHAKE RECIPES

Some of these shakes have alcohol, and some don’t. But you can add spirits to any recipe.

While chocolate, coffee, or strawberry liqueurs work nicely when they match the ice cream flavor, we particularly like Irish cream liqueur.

In addition to the delicious flavor, it adds to the creaminess of the shake.

 
Plus

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September is National Fruits & Veggies Month, a holiday established by the USDA to bring greater attention to the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.

The message is not only to “make the most of summer produce while it’s still available,” but to integrate more fruits and vegetables into your daily meals. It’s pretty easy: Here’s how.

So who’s tops in produce? Below:

> The top 20 fruits and vegetables.
 
Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> The year’s 80 fruit holidays.

> The year’s 95+ vegetable holidays.
 
 
WHAT AMERICANS ARE BUYING

The Fresh Produce Association shared these results from a trade industry survey, The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2022. The study reflected consumer behavior in 2021.

More specifically, it surveyed consumers on their most-purchased fruits and vegetables.

 
 
CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR

The chart below lists the most frequently-purchased fruits and vegetables in 2021 in the U.S. What’s new?

 
O.K., maybe that’s not so exciting unless you’re a grocery store produce manager. But take a look:
 
 
Where do your favorites rank on the list?

[1] What are America’a Top 20 fruits and veggies? Apples are the #4 fruit (photo © Envy Apples | Facebook).

[2] Broccoli is #6 on the vegetables list (photo © Burpee).

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