Overview: Florence’s Giacosa 1815, part of the Valenza Group, stands as a modern interpretation of the city’s historic love affair with the Negroni cocktail. Head bartender Mirko Maurello oversees mixology at the venue located on Via della Spada, which claims the title of the drink’s birthplace. The bar combines classic recipes with technical innovations like pre-batching and extended resting times to serve approximately 2,000 classic Negronis monthly.
The Full Story
The venue operates on Via della Spada after opening in 2023 under new ownership, following the closure of the previous site on Via Tornabuoni in 2017. While the current location is distinct, the bar’s website declares it to be the “birthplace of the Negroni,” a claim supported by a plaque commemorating the drink’s creator nearby. The Giacosa family originally opened a bar in Florence in 1860, though that site was not where the current establishment stands.
The relaunch marked a real shift in identity for the bar compared to its predecessor, which served a light aperitivo menu until around 8pm or 9pm. Mixology is now served until midnight on week nights and later at the weekends. According to head bartender Mirko Maurello, the people of Florence have accepted Giacosa as the original, comparing their love for the bar to their passion for football.
Production & Profile
The menu features two primary variations: the classic Negroni and the Giacosa. The former is the equal-parts cocktail known and loved by patrons, though Maurello notes the earliest recipes called for “just a little part of gin” before settling into even thirds over time. A lemon twist is added during stirring and removed before serving to give more roundness and power.
The bar utilizes pre-batching with a minimum 24-hour resting time to streamline operations, though Maurello states this isn’t the main reason; resting makes the Negroni soft and creamy. The Giacosa Negroni features 5ml more Campari than the classic version, offering extra bitterness for structure. The wider Negroni section features three more variations that play with technique: the Shakerato, the Throwing, and the Nitro.
Brand & Industry History
The Giacosa family took on the Caffè Casoni site in 1927 – or thereabouts – where Scarselli first stirred up gin, vermouth, and Campari nearly a decade earlier. The bar’s name references a Turin venture that opened in 1815, while the original Florence location dates back to 1860. Under new ownership as part of the Valenza Group, the establishment reopened in 2023 after the previous site closed in 2017.
What This Means
The wider Negroni section features three more variations that play with technique: the Shakerato, the Throwing, and the Nitro. The first swaps stirring with shaking, while the Nitro features a touch of sucro emulsifier stabilized into a foam with gum arabic. While guests may delight in Giacosa’s dedication to the Negroni, not everyone is keen on the cocktail. That’s where the rest of the menu steps in, though the bar’s favourite serve still makes its presence known by grafting itself to other classics.
Consumer Takeaway
The venue offers a modern classic cocktail experience grounded in historical claims and technical precision. Patrons can expect the soul of the Negroni with the dress of other cocktails, including options like the Cosmo Negroni or Bloody Negroni which leans into umami. The bar champions Sherry and the venencia method of serving, pouring liquid from a height from a special tool.
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