negroni recipe: how to make a negroni cocktail

Negroni is a drink which combines many different flavours. It is a combination of the sweetness of the vermouth, bitterness of the Campari with the floral and herbal qualities of Gin.

The Negroni can technically be classified an aperitif, but can also be served as a cocktail. The drink follows the pattern of a base liquor, which is Gin paired with a sweet  aperitif such as vermouth and bitters which in this case is the Campari.

The drink recipe is known to have originated in the 1920s in Florence Italy at the Casoni bar. It is named after the customer, Count Camillo Negroni who asked the barman to add Gin to his Americano to make it more potent. The drink has since been known to many variations especially by varying the base liquor Gin with others such Vodka and Whiskey.

Ingredients

  • 1 shot of Campari
  • 1 shot of Gin
  • 1 shot of Cinzano Rosso or Sweet Vermouth
  • Splash of Soda water (Optional)
  • Large Orange Slice for garnish

Preparation/Recipe

  1. Add ice cubes into an Old Fashioned (short ball) glass
  2. Add 1 shot of the Campari
  3. Add 1 shot of the Gin
  4. Add 1 shot of the Sweet Vermouth
  5. Stir gently with a long bar spoon to mix the ingredients
  6. Add a large splash of the soda water to top of the drink
  7. Garnish with a large orange slice
Negroni on the Rocks with Gin and Campari

Variations

Negroski: This variation uses Vodka as the base instead of the Gin.
Negroni Sbagliato: Translated from Italian as “Wrong Negroni”, this recipe substitutes Gin with Sparkling wine such as a Prosecco or Moscato.
Boulevardier: Use Bourbon Whiskey instead of the Gin in the Negroni recipe.
Americano: This is the  “parent” drink from which the Negroni recipe is supposed to have originated from. It completely eliminates the Gin and has equal parts of Campari and Sweet Vermouth.

Tips

  • The drink can be served up in a martini glass as well, or as a Short Ball or a Highball on ice. You can garnish with a lemon or orange twist when serving up in a martini glass instead of the orange slice.
  • Instead of topping off with the soda, you can top off the drink with a sparking wine like Prosecco, Cava or Champagne.