Shannon Tebay's Lightning Rod cocktail (which you can find in Death & Co Welcome Home) left a mark on Vincent Ramirez-Boyce—specifically her move of slipping crème de cacao into an agave-based Negroni variation. Ridgeline takes that instinct and applies it to a more open question: how do you make a mezcal Negroni feel genuinely approachable without losing what makes it worth drinking? The answer arrives quietly, in the form of a melon aperitif. Artonic's version brings a juicy, sun-warmed lift that pulls the drink forward, while oloroso sherry steps in for the sweet vermouth—richer, drier, and threaded with dried fruit and toasted nuts. Cappelletti holds the bitter line. The result is something aromatic and inviting, but with the sturdy, well-knit balance that makes a Negroni a Negroni.