To me, the Negroni is the iconic holiday drink.
There are cocktails, then there is the Negroni, for many, the cocktail. No other cocktail is as tasty and refreshing in summer, so cheerful and pretty during the holidays, and so easy and simple to make into countless variations.
For me, a Negroni is the ultimate holiday cocktail. Firstly, you can make a lot of it at the same time, should you have a larger group. Secondly, it’s pretty and colorful. And finally, it’s perfect with a little spice should you want to go there. Give me a Negroni over gluhwein or eggnog with rum any day.
Some people will say they don’t like Negronis because they are too bitter or too sweet. More than likely, they had their first Negroni at a bar that didn’t care. Here is how to make Negroni the right way, one sip and you’ll see why it’s the most popular cocktail of the last 100 years and looking to be the most popular cocktail for the next 100 too.
What is a Negroni cocktail
A Negroni is a sweet and slightly bitter tasting drink that’s reminiscent of an aperitif, but packs a huge punch, unlike most aperitifs. It’s perfect as a cocktail pre- or during dinner, as the bitter notes highlight the flavors of food really well.
The invention of the Negroni goes to a count named Camillo Negroni who wanted something stronger than his usual drink, a Mi-To, named after the twin cities of Milano and Torino, later named the Americano because Americans loved it so much during WW1. A Mi-To was made up of campari, vermouth, and soda. To make the drink stronger, he subbed out the zero ABV soda for gin, and just like that, magic was made.
Classic Negroni recipe
The classic Negroni recipe is equal parts gin, campari, and red vermouth, built over ice and served with an orange peel garnish.
Negroni Wrong
Recently, it’s become popular on tiktok to swap the gin for a sparkling wine (ideally, Prosecco). It makes for a lighter, fizzier, more fun cocktail. This one is great both in summer and during the holidays, especially if you love the taste but don’t want to be completely wasted around family. It’s also just a great cocktail to serve to people with a lower tolerance for alcohol.
Negroni ingredients
Although most sources will tell you that a Negroni has 3 ingredients, a Negroni actually has 5 ingredients: gin, campari, vermouth, ice, and orange peel.
Gin
Most people splurge on the gin, and in most bars you’ll find they are very proud of the gin they use. I disagree though, the gin is important, but the punch of the campari and vermouth pretty much kill any subtle herbal nuances top shelf gin will get you. I use whatever gin I have on hand, but usually I use Beefeater. Currently I’m drinking Drumshanbo, a gin with Asian inspired botanicals (star anise and cardamom) that is excellent in a Negroni.
Campari
Campari is absolutely needed for a proper Negroni. Accept no substitutes.
Vermouth
Here is where, in my opinion, the biggest difference between a good and a great Negroni is made. I try to stay away from the bottom shelf vermouth such as Martini. I’d rather spend my money on a good vermouth over a top shelf gin any day. My favorites are Punt e Mes, Cocchi Torino, and especially Carpano Antica.
When I first started drinking Negronis, Punt e Mes was $75+. I was over the moon when we were in Buenos Aires one year and they were the equivalent of $5 a bottle. I brought home 6 bottles. It’s thankfully gone down in price as it’s gone up in popularity since then.
Of the three, I really like Carpano Antica because it comes in a smaller bottle. Vermouth is a wine based liqueur, which means the moment you open it, it starts to degrade. You should keep vermouth in the fridge, and buy only a size you know you can finish in under a month.
You know the old maxim never cook with a wine you wouldn’t drink? My experience is that most people have never tasted vermouth on its own. The difference in price between a higher end vermouth and a bottle shelf vermouth is usually just a few dollars, but the taste difference is out of this world.
Ice
Invest in a good 2” covered ice cube tray for your cocktails. You don’t need to go crazy and make clear ice, but traditionally, these cocktails were served with large ice cubes from the days before plastic ice trays and nugget ice machines. A covered ice cube tray protects your ice from any stray freezer smells. If your tap water doesn’t taste great, consider using filtered or bottled water for your ice, even though it seems like overkill.
Garnish
One of the key parts of a Negroni is the orange peel, which complements the campari and adds a bit of acid to offset the sweetness of the vermouth, especially if you took my advice and got a more premium vermouth, which tends to be sweeter. When I was younger, I skipped the orange peel (because you needed a fresh orange, which I never had) and the first time I tried it, I was amazed at the difference it made. For extra flair, you can squeeze, spritz, or even flame your orange peel, but I prefer the subtle purity of a clean orange peel myself.
Shaken or Stirred
Please never shake a Negroni.
How to make a Negroni
- Prepare a rocks glass with a large ice cube.
- Peel a 1” x 4” strip of orange peel and trim as needed.
- Build the drink over ice.
- Stir for 30 seconds.
- Garnishand enjoy immediately.
Negroni Glass
A Negroni should never be served up or in a flute. Properly it should be in a low ball/rocks/old fashioned bar glass. A correctly sized Negroni is 3oz plus ice, so a double glass is just about the right size.
My Best Negroni recipe
If you’re at all a drinker, you’ll find the classic 1:1:1 ratio of a Negroni a little too sweet. If you aren’t a drinker, you might find it really bitter. Once, I served a Negroni for the first time to a wine snob friend of mine who had never had one. This was in the dark ages when appletinis were popular. He found it unbearably bitter, though in the decades since, he’s started serving them before dinner.
But if you prefer your Negroni on the more balanced side, my go-to Negroni recipe that I’ve been drinking for years is 3/4 oz Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth, 3/4oz Campari, and 1.5oz gin.
The Boulevardier
I used to order this one in bars exclusively, and for the first few years, no bartender really knew what it was. Then, overnight, it was more popular on bar menus than the Negroni – which is either off-menu at most places or served with some variation, like sake. A boulevardier swaps the herbaceous gin for earthy, spiced bourbon, which makes for a darker drink that’s kind of the lovechild of a Negroni and a Manhattan, combining them into the best of both worlds, like New York Italian food.
The Negroni is one of my favorite cocktails of all time, and I’ve been drinking this version for decades. I hope you give it a try, especially with the right vermouth.
Cheers!
Mike
My Best Negroni
Ingredients
- 1 ice cube 2″x2″
- 1 orange peel trimmed
- 1.5 oz gin such as beefeater
- 3/4 oz Campari
- 3/4 oz Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
Instructions
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Prepare a rocks glass with a large ice cube. Peel a 1” x 4” strip of orange peel and trim the edges. Twirl around a chopstick or skewer if desired.
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Build the drink over ice.
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Stir for 30 seconds or until cold, garnish with the prepared orange peel, then enjoy immedidately.
Estimated Nutrition
Amount Per Serving
