This Negroni recipe is a classic cocktail with rich flavor notes perfect for sipping. It’s made with gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
As a classic Italian apéritif, the Negroni is best sipped slowly. It helps stimulate your tastebuds so you’re ready for the big meal!
It’s a potent and flavor-forward cocktail, and it’s not for everyone. But those who like it swear by it!
If you want to impress your guests at your next dinner party, nothing says fancy like this flavor-forward apéritif.
So, make the final preparations for your big meal, and dive into this Negroni cocktail recipe.
Negroni Ingredients
The Negroni uses different types of alcohol for depth of flavor. There are no mixers here! And if you don’t care for Campari, there are sweeter substitutions found below.
- Gin – You want a strong and dry gin to stand up to the warming notes from Campari. Beefeater London Dry, Oxley, or Portobello Road No 171 are great options.
- Campari – Campari is bold and very bitter. It has subtle citrus notes with more complex hints of warm spices like clove and cinnamon. If you dislike the flavor, substitute it with sweeter options like Aperol or Gran Classico.
- Sweet Vermouth – Always opt for a red Italian sweet vermouth like Cinzano Rosso or Carpano Antico for those classic flavors.
- Ice cubes – Cooling a negroni with a little bit of ice helps calm some of those strong bitter notes. It’s also important to gently stir the ice and never shake it.
- Orange Peel for Garnish – A bright touch of orange peel looks so elegant. Plus, it adds a fragrant hint of fresh flavors.
How to Make a Negroni
While this cocktail is quite strong, you must be gentle when combining these ingredients. Here’s a quick and easy way to prepare this classic Italian cocktail.
1. Prepare. Fill a cocktail shaker or mixing glass with ice to the top.
2. Get boozy. Add Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin. Gently stir it for 20 seconds or until the shaker is cool to the touch.
3. Pour. Add a large ice cube to a rocks glass, and pour the stirred cocktail over top.
4. Garnish. Gently squeeze an orange peel to release its natural oils and toss it in the glass. Enjoy!
How Strong Is the Negroni?
Made with three parts alcohol, the Negroni is a strong cocktail. It’s best sipped very slowly to appreciate its complex flavors.
But it’s not quite as potent as you think. The alcohol content in a single serving of Negroni is 24 percent ABV, or 48 proof. It’s slightly more than a classic martini.
Tips for the Best Negroni
Here are a few quick tips for the perfect Italian Negroni. As a simple cocktail, small adjustments make a big difference.
- Resist the urge to shake it. The flavor of the Negroni is best when gently stirred. If you shake it with ice, it will dilute some of those bold flavors.
- Splurge on good gin. The gin you select needs to play well with Campari for the best flavors. Now is not the time to skimp on the gin! Opt for brands like Hendrick’s, Bombay, or Beefeater. They’re a little expensive but well worth it.
- Vermouth doesn’t last forever. It’s not every day you bust out the sweet vermouth for cocktails. If you can’t really remember when you bought that old bottle of vermouth, it’s probably time to replace it. Once opened, vermouth has a shelf life of about 3 months.
- Campari is an acquired taste. Campari is very bitter, and it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. For most, it’s an acquired taste. But if you have a hard time with this bitter booze, replace it with its sweeter, milder cousin Aperol.
Recipe Variations
Many variations of this classic recipe taste just as good (if not better) than the original. With some simple booze swaps, you can tinker with the flavors of this drink.
- White Negroni. A white Negroni leans harder on the floral notes. For a lighter cocktail, swap vermouth for Lillet Blanc, and Suze instead of Campari.
- Boulevardier. If you love dark and brooding notes in your cocktail, the Boulevardier is worth a try! It swaps out gin for bourbon whiskey and is absolutely perfect for those cold winter nights.
- Aperol Negroni. If you still want the traditional flavors of an Italian Negroni but can’t palette Campari, try this Aperol Negroni. This cocktail replaces Campari for a slightly sweeter Aperol that’s less bitter.
- Mezcal Negroni. The Mezcal Negroni uses the same ingredients but substitutes Mezcal for gin. It’s a great option if gin isn’t your thing. It’s a little lighter, making it a great summer option.
Best Negroni Recipe (Classic Cocktail)
1
servings5
minutes40
minutesThis classic Negroni recipe should be in everyone’s repertoire! Made with Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth, it’s an Italian delicacy.
Ingredients
1 ounce gin
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce sweet vermouth
Ice cubes
Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a mixing glass or cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, then gently stir for about 20 seconds.
- Add a large ice cube to a rocks glass (whiskey glass) and strain the drink over the top.
- Garnish it with an orange peel and enjoy.
Notes
- Campari Alternative: While Campari is the traditional choice for a classic Negroni, you can use Aperol for a slightly sweeter and less bitter taste. Another alternative is Gran Classico, which offers a more complex flavor.
- Sweet Vermouth Alternative: Carpano Antica and Dolin are popular sweet vermouth options, but you can use semi-sweet vermouth if you want the drink to be less sweet.
- Stir, Don’t Shake: You’ll stir this drink once with ice to chill it, then strain it over fresh ice. That’s all the mixing this needs. If you shake it with ice, it’ll dilute and won’t have the same clarity.
- Easy Variations:
Negroni Sbagliato: Replace the gin with sparkling wine or Prosecco.
White Negroni: Use Lillet Blanc instead of sweet vermouth and Suze or Salers instead of Campari.
