How To Make A Classic Negroni Cocktail
Home » COOK » Recipes » Beverages » Cocktails »Learn how to make a classic Negroni cocktail with this easy recipe. Dive into the world of Negronis, explore mocktail variations, and unleash your creativity with exciting variations.
The Negroni exudes a timeless and refined charm that transports you to a bygone era of cocktail culture. Sipping on a Negroni is like savoring a piece of history.
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While you may prefer to skip to the recipe card, we suggest reading the entire blog post to avoid missing valuable tips and substitution suggestions and to ensure you have the necessary ingredients, equipment, and understanding of the steps and timings.
How To Make A Classic Negroni
While working in Rome on the film Cagliostro in 1947, American actor and screenwriter Orson Wells said of the Negroni, “The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other.”
The Negroni is an Italian cocktail typically served as an apéritif, served before a meal.
It is made with equal parts London Dry Gin, Sweet Red Vermouth, and Campari and served with a twist of orange peel.
The best way to describe the flavor of Negroni is that it is bitter, sweet, and dry all at once.
It showcases a harmonious blend of botanicals, bitter notes, and citrus undertones and is definitely an acquired taste.
Unlike fruit juice-based cocktails, Negronis are stirred rather than shaken.
Shaking spirit-based cocktails over-oxidizes the drink, makes it too cold, and can damage the delicate aromatics within.
Whether hosting a chic cocktail party, enjoying a relaxed evening at home, or unwinding with friends, the Negroni adds a touch of sophistication and flair to the occasion.
Origins Of The Negroni Cocktail
The exact origins of the drink remain uncertain. However, the most widely circulated account suggests that it was first mixed at Caffè Casoni in Florence, Italy, in 1919.
According to a commonly embraced narrative, a member of the Negroni family sought a stronger variation of the Americano cocktail by requesting the addition of gin instead of the usual soda water.
The bartender also swapped the customary lemon garnish of the Americano for an orange garnish to distinguish it as a distinct beverage.
Following the cocktail’s popularity, the Negroni family established Negroni Distillerie in Treviso, Italy, and introduced a premixed version of the drink known as Antico Negroni 1919.
Ingredients For A Negroni Cocktail
For convenience, the required ingredients and equipment for this recipe are linked to online stores like Amazon or Amazon Fresh, if available.
- Gin – London Dry Gin is typically used in Negronis.
- Sweet Vermouth – an aromatized fortified wine flavoured with various botanicals such as roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs, and spices. (Wikipedia). It is also known as Red Vermouth (due to its color) or Italian Vermouth (due to its origin).
- Campari – an Italian alcoholic liqueur, considered an apéritif, obtained from the infusion of herbs and fruit in alcohol and water. It is a type of bitters, characterized by its dark red colour. (Wikipedia)
- Garnish – Fresh Orange Peel
- Vegetable Peeler – perfect for creating orange peel strips.
The Negroni allows for customization, allowing you to experiment with different gin varieties, vermouth options, and even garnishes to suit your preferences and create a unique signature drink.
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More Gin Cocktails To Make
If you enjoy gin-based drinks, you’re going to love making these cocktails:
Cocktail Party Appetizers
If you want to serve some appetizers with your drinks, check out these recipes:
- Grilled Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus Spears Appetizer
- Whipped Feta Dip with Black Olives and Cherry Tomatoes
- Cucumber Smoked Salmon Appetizers Ready in Just 20 Minutes!
Negroni Variations
Here are some variations of the original cocktail recipe that you might like to try out.
- Boulevardier: Replace gin with bourbon for a darker, richer twist on the Negroni.
- White Negroni: Substitute gin with a lighter spirit like white vermouth and replace Campari with Suze or another herbal liqueur.
- Negroni Sbagliato: Swap gin with sparkling wine or Prosecco to create a Negroni with a bubbly and festive touch.
- Americano: 1 oz Campari, 1 oz sweet red vermouth, a splash of soda.
- Aperol Negroni: Use Aperol in place of Campari.
- Cheeky Negroni: Use white vermouth instead of red and Aperol instead of Campari.
- Queen’s Negroni: A British variant that replaces the Campari with Pimm’s.
- Agavoni or Tegroni: Use tequila in place of gin.
Negroni Mocktails (Non-Alcoholic Spirits)
For adults who would still like to enjoy the taste of alcohol in their mocktail, you could try non-alcoholic alternatives.
In the UK, try Lyre’s, which is also available on Amazon in the UK and Amazon.com.
Other brands include Strykk (UK) and Ritual (US & Canada). Non-alcoholic spirits are a growing trend, so look for them in your local stores and online.
- Instead of Gin, use Lyre’s Dry London Spirit.
- Instead of Sweet Vermouth, use Lyre’s Aperitif Dry.
- Instead of Campari, use Italian Spritz.
Follow the recipe card using the non-alcoholic alternatives listed above instead of the alcoholic ones.
If you are a fan of the Negroni mocktail, try this Non-Alcoholic Aperol Spritz for a similar vibe that uses Ritual Aperitif Alternative.
Big Batch Negroni
Want to make a big batch of Negroni cocktails for a party or gathering? It’s easy – here’s how!
As long as you use the same measuring container (glass, cup, jug, etc.) for the “1 part”, the ratios will be correct, and you can make as much as you need to.
To make Negronis for a crowd, mix together:
- 1 part Gin
- 1 part Sweet Vermouth
- 1 part Campari
- Fresh orange peel
Serve the large batch cocktail in drinks dispensers or pitchers, or go retro and serve from a punch bowl! Use whichever container you have or suits the event you are hosting.
Make sure to add plenty of ice to your serving container of choice to keep the cocktail chilled.
Saving leftovers:
While it’s best to enjoy the cocktail fresh to savor its flavors, you may end up with some left at the end of your party—don’t let it go to waste!
- Transfer it to an airtight pitcher or container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Note that the flavors may evolve slightly over time.
- Or, to make it last longer, turn it into Negroni Granita!
- Granita is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily.
- Transfer the cocktail to a shallow freezer-safe container and sweeten it with some simple syrup or sugar to taste. Place the container in the freezer for 6 hours (or overnight).
- Use a fork to break the frozen cocktail into small pieces. Serve with an orange wedge and enjoy!
Setting Up Your Cocktail Bar
When setting up your bar or cocktail serving area, you could include the following:
- Ice Bucket – filled with ice. Don’t forget a scoop or tongs.
- Cocktail Glasses
- Cocktail Napkins
- Cocktail Stirrers/Swizzle Sticks
- Cocktail Sticks/Picks – skewer the fruit onto cocktail picks for your guests to garnish their drinks.
- Cocktail Decorations – umbrellas, straws, etc.
This cocktail recipe is intended for adults of the legal drinking age in your country of residence.
Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
How Do I Make A Classic Negroni?
You’ll find the printable cocktail recipe below. To save ink, any demonstration photos on the recipe card do not print.
Classic Negroni Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 oz Gin
- 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 1 oz Campari
- Slice of fresh orange peel
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Instructions
- Pour the Gin, Vermouth, and Campari into a tall glass and stir well.
- Fill a rocks glass* with ice, and pour the cocktail over top.
- Squeeze the orange peel over the glass and use it as garnish. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
Dinner Party Menu Suggestions!
The beverage is covered, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to create a menu for a dinner party or special meal:
- Appetizer: Cucumber Feta Watermelon Skewers
- Soup: Spicy Roasted Tomato & Red Pepper Soup
- Salad: Orange Pomegranate Salad with Goat Cheese, Avocado & Pecans
- Main Dish: Crispy Salmon with Herb Butter and Summer Vegetables
- Side Dish: Greek-Style Lemon Potatoes
- Dessert: Instant Pot Chocolate Cheesecake
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