The ultimate car accessory could be this Negroni Trunk

A little while ago I co-wrote a book entirely dedicated to the sweet side of life – much of which existed purely in the imagination. The design critic Stephen Bayley generously wrote of The Life Negroni: ‘It is an album, a love letter, a guide, a memoir and a rich source of graphic delight.’

With a sweet spot for any project that defies convention and (even better) isn’t made for profit, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by this one: A product created entirely out of a deep passion for a classic cocktail, love of cars and a thirst for adventure.

This Negroni Trunk – by New York men’s style fixture and founder/editor of lifestyle magazine WM Brown Project Matt Hranek – is designed entirely to make life just that little bit more pleasurable. It certainly works for me.

Take a closer look at the project here.

Brilliant and imaginative reviews for The Life Negroni

The Life Negroni is a project purely from the heart, straddling the world of spirits and mixology, of art and design, of fashion, people and places… even the motor car. Co-authored by me,  a book that traverses through history and across cultures to explore a simple cocktail.

And it has been receiving some wonderful reviews too! Thank you to all the critics out there, my colleagues from design and lifestyle magazines, food and cocktail publications for your kind and imaginative words!

Here are snippets of some of the best…

‘The Life Negroni is a gorgeous book offering voyeuristic insights into a way of life which may never have existed anywhere other than the imagination, but one that is no less intoxicating for that…. As a publication, I was reminded of Luc Sante’s epic No Smoking of 2004, a masterpiece of book design. It is an album, a love letter, a guide, a memoir and a rich source of graphic delight, ‘ design critic, aesthete and author Stephen Bayley wrote in The Spectator.

Like the drink, the book drips European post-war cool… and it’s just possible it might make you a little thirsty,  Teddy Jamieson printed in The Herald Magazine.

‘Be warned: this is a gripping read,’ said Time Out.

Jonathan Bell in Wallpaper* wrote: ‘Mixing up a monograph about a single cocktail seems like a tall order, but the Banks’ celebration of all things Italian, bitter and sweet offers a life history of a famous drink.’

Bar Magazine printed: ‘The revival of the classic Negroni has given it a cult status that is celebrated over more than 300 pages in a lavish new book.’

‘The Life Negroni is an ode to this cocktail, recounting the fascinating history, examining ingredients and the people, music, art and fashions it’s inspired,’ wrote Olive Magazine.

‘It’s like going on the Negroni grand tour. La dolce vita!’ Urban Junkies.

‘It explores the influence the Negroni has had on style, fashion and etiquette, as well as the part it has played in music, art and luxury hotels,’ Brummell magazine printed.

Plus Icon magazine dedicated the ‘Obsessions’ page of the July issue to The Life Negroni authors. Thank you Icon!

… and for the best of the rest Material GalleryDesign Week, Form Trends, The Spirits Business, Saucy DressingGin FuelledBoots Shoes and Fashion, Fine Dining Lovers

Nargess Banks

This is The Life Negroni,

Learn more about The Life Negroni here

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Design Talks is published by Spinach Design
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The Life Negroni, an ode to the sweet life

This month saw the publication of a book that I’ve been working on for over a year. The Life Negroni is a labour of love. We travelled through Europe and beyond to meet almost everyone featured in this book, and it has been such an exciting and rewarding project to be involved with.

The book straddles the world of cocktails, spirits and mixology, of art, architecture and design, film, politics and poetry. It delves into the Negroni’s past, discovering the stories behind its component ingredients, and reviews at its timeless influence on art, design, fashion, music, cinema, politics, poetry… the avant-garde.

We go behind the scenes to meet the king of bitters Campari at its stunning modernist headquarters on the edge of Milan. Here we witness the company’s involvement with the Italian Futurists, and see one of the richest collections from this period.

We learn about Vermouth di Torino at Cocchi, and at Martini & Rossi, in an idyllic spot in the beautiful hills surrounding Turin, we see how design and branding were utilised at a time when such concepts were in their infancy.

In London we visit Beefeater, Tanqueray, Sipsmith and Sacred – craft distillers large and small who are preserving the tradition of London Dry gin, and we squeeze our way into the smallest museum dedicated to all things gin at the Ginstitute.

We sample some of the purest and adventurous Negronis at the Bulgari Hotel in Milan, and Fusion Bar and St Regis in Florence, The Connaught, Artesian, Blue Bar, Salvatore’s at the Playboy Club, Shangri-La at The Shard and Frank’s Cafe in London, the Negroni Bar in Munich, and at the Waldorf Astoria, Lincoln Centre, Parker Palm Springs in America.

Above all we meet the custodians, the guardians of the Negroni. Mixologists, bartenders, fashion designers, car designers, yacht makers, filmmakers and artists past and present who champion this simple cocktail.

The Life Negroni is ultimately an ode to the sweet life – a celebration of the pleasures of living told through a humble classic cocktail.

Hope you enjoy!

Nargess Banks

… and the reviews are coming in. Read what The SpectatorTime Out, Urban Junkies and Form Trends had to say about the book, have a browse through the testimonials here, follow us on facebook, twitter and instagram @Thelifenegroni

Purchase a copy here.

#Thelifenegroni

…. and some kind words by some of our reviewers and readers:

Absolutely stunning! This book is destined for greatness,’ Sam Galsworthy, co-founder of Sipsmith

‘The Life Negroni is a gorgeous book offering voyeuristic insights into a way of life which may never have existed anywhere other than the imagination, but one that is no less intoxicating for that. … I was reminded of Luc Sante’s epic No Smoking of 2004, a masterpiece of book design. It is an album, a love letter, a guide, a memoir and a rich source of graphic delight. Only hedonists would enjoy such a thing,’ Stephen Bayley, aesthete, design critic and co-founder of London’s Design Museum

Be warned: this is a gripping read,’ Time Out, London

The book is FABULOUS!’ Gary Regan, author and mixologist

‘… Like the drink, the book drips European post-war cool. It even manages to juxtapose Florence’s Ponte Vecchio with the Playboy Club…It’s a book in thrall to the Italian idea of sprezzatura, a kind of off-the-cuff stylishness that you can trace back to Baldassare Castiglione’s The Book of the Courier. And it’s just possible it might make you a little thirsty,’ Teddy Jamieson.

I am obsessed with it, pouring over each beautiful page, and carrying it all over my home. I may even change my Facebook status to “In a Relationship” with…’ Mariena Mercer, chief mixologist The Cosmopolitan of Los Vegas

It is struck me as a reminder of how sweet and beautiful life in Italy has been and, in spite of our chronic financial and political dire strait, still is… It brings out elements of the charm and elegance of our country and of our lifestyle that we Italians sometimes have the tendency to overlook or to forget,’ Maurizio Stocchetto, owner Bar Basso, Milan

‘I love the look and feel. The drink itself had me convinced a long time ago!’ Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW Group director of design

Absolutely stunning book… already can see that I am going to love every single page and image,’ Paula Champa, author

The book arrived but I could only see it very briefly because Luca Bassani liked it so much that he took it home!’ Monica Paolazzi, on the owner of Wally Yachts

I see you found a page even for me… I am honoured,’ Chris Bangle, car designer

The Life Negroni is no ordinary cocktail book – it documents the historical, avant-garde, and artistic element to the drink, even down to its botanical origin. It’s like going on the Negroni grand tour. La dolce vita!’ Urban Junkies, London

Mille Grazie for taking me on the journey,’ Michele Fiordoliva, co-owner Negroni Bar, Munich

It is an honour to be in such a great book with the best bars and colleagues from all around Europe,’ Marco Vezzozi, bar manager Fusion, Florence

Liquid history. The Life Negroni, finally out. Honoured to be part of the journey,’ Valentina Dalla Costa, The Unseen, Milan

It is even more gorgeous than I thought it would be! I love the size, the canvas feel to the cover… the illustrations inside are just amazing, one after another. It is hard to put it down!!!’ Azadeh Maroufi, New York

It is such a beautifully produced book (but I knew it would be),’ Hilary Whitney, Sacred

A celebration of the sweet life,‘ Yashu e Prem, Italy

‘The glamour oozes off every page. I was transported to another place and time – one which I wished I could inhabit. I could hear the chink of hand-cut ice cubes, see the perfectly cut suits and smell the waft of expensive perfume. And God did I want a drink!!’ Graham Biggs, BMW Group

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Design Talks is published by Spinach Design

All rights and labelled images are covered by ©

Pop in to The Life Negroni pop-up shop

We have a pop-up shop in London next week, for five days only, dedicated to all things The Life Negroni, our latest book. Located in the heart of Shoreditch, in Old Street, the space is designed to excite any true bon vivant and aficionados of the cocktail. Here on sale will be copies of The Life Negroni, and unique prints and posters inspired by the art, design and advertising featured in the book.

The Life Negroni Pop-Up Shop

The Life Negroni Pop-Up Shop

Published by Spinach Publishing, The Life Negroni is the story of the illustrious cocktail and the world it represents. This delicious 300-page coffee table book is the story of the history, ingredients, personalities, music, art, design, fashion, poetry and politics.

And we’ve been receiving some incredible reviews!

Stephen Bayley wrote in The Spectator: ‘It is a gorgeous book offering voyeuristic insights into a way of life which may never have existed anywhere other than the imagination, but one that is no less intoxicating for that…’

‘Be warned: this is a gripping read,’ wrote Time Out

The book takes the readers on a little road trip of sorts around the world to meet the distillers, mixologists, drink historians, aficionados and aesthetes who champion the Negroni. We visit craft gin distillers in London, makers of Vermouth di Torino in Piedmont, and the king of all bitters Campari in Milan.

We trace the drink’s history to 1919 and its alleged birthplace in Florence, and meet with the ancestor of the contesting Corsican family. We explore a world far beyond a cocktail – one that has been the patron of the arts, has embraced pioneering design, branding and advertising, of free spirits.

The Life Negroni is a story that spans generations. It is a story of Italy, of la dolce vita, of Futurism, of aperitivo. It is a story of love and duels, fought to preserve the spirit of a cocktail. It is, above all, a celebration of the pleasures of living.

To quote Stephen Bayley once more: ‘I was reminded of Luc Sante’s epic No Smoking of 2004, a masterpiece of book design. It is an album, a love letter, a guide, a memoir and a rich source of graphic delight. Only hedonists would enjoy such a thing.’

The shop will be open from November 30 to 4 December in Old Street Underground Station, London EC1Y 1BE.

Read more about the book here.

#TheLifeNegroni