How it tastes
Classic Negroni bitterness up front, then the kaffir lime leaf hits in the nose as you bring the glass closer. The dark chocolate doesn't sweeten the drink. It softens the bitter edge and adds a low cocoa register that pulls everything together. The drink opens up as the ice melts. We've found the most interesting sip is the third or fourth, when dilution has done its work.
Why we built it
The Negroni is one of those drinks that resists reinvention. Anything you add tends to muddy the original equation. The brief here was to find aromatics that play with the existing bitter-sweet base, not against it. Kaffir lime leaf turned out to be a near-perfect match for Campari, somehow making the bitter feel brighter without changing the body. Dark chocolate was the part that took longer. We tried cocoa powder, chocolate bitters, and a chocolate infusion. Shavings on top, fresh, won.
Where to drink it
On the menu at Dissolved Solids, 43-1 Jalan SS20/11, Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya. Open Tuesday to Sunday. To skip the wait, reserve a table and tell us if you'd like one made before you sit down.
If you want a different Negroni style for a quieter night, our drink builder can route you toward a jungle-bird style instead. And if you'd like to read about Campari and bitter cocktails in our journal, that's in here too.
Frequently asked questions
What glass is the Scented Negroni served in?
A chilled rocks glass over a single large ice cube. The kaffir lime leaf is bruised and added to the mixing glass with the spirits, stirred long over ice (25 to 30 seconds), then strained over the rock. Dark chocolate shavings sit on top so the cocoa oils rise as the drink warms. The third or fourth sip, when dilution has done its work, is the most interesting.
Can I substitute the kaffir lime leaf in a Scented Negroni?
Kaffir lime leaf (daun limau purut) is the structural ingredient and hard to substitute. Pandan leaf gives you a different but related Southeast Asian Negroni. Lemongrass works but reads more citrusy than aromatic. For the chocolate, fresh dark chocolate shavings are non-negotiable: chocolate bitters or cocoa powder will not work. Gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth follow the standard Negroni equal-parts logic; Carpano Antica is the reference vermouth.
How strong is the Scented Negroni?
Around 24 to 27 percent ABV in the finished drink, the same as a classic Negroni. The build is 30ml each of gin (around 40 percent), Campari (25 percent), and sweet vermouth (around 16 to 18 percent), stirred over ice with the kaffir lime leaf. The bittersweet profile carries the spirit weight without ever feeling spirit-forward.
Where can I order a Scented Negroni in PJ or KL?
This is a house signature at Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim, 43-1 Jalan SS20/11, Petaling Jaya. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 15:00 to 01:00. WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607. The kaffir lime leaves are fresh daily. Soluble Solids in SS2 can also pour one on request. This is the Negroni variant we are best known for.
What food pairs with the Scented Negroni?
Aperitif first, before dinner. Pairs with charcuterie, olives, marinated anchovies, hard cheeses (parmesan, manchego). Also strong with Thai and Vietnamese food: the kaffir lime leaf mirrors flavours already in tom yum and pho. Pairs with dark chocolate desserts since the cocoa note is already in the drink. Skip with anything sweet or creamy; the bitterness fights dessert sugar.