With its striking ruby-red color and boldly bittersweet taste, this easy Negroni recipe is just as refreshing on a hot day as it is comforting on a chilly night!
The Negroni became an overnight sensation in the US during the mid to late 2000s. The simple classic drink has since established a permanent home on cocktail menus throughout the country.
What is a Negroni?
The Negroni is a classic cocktail made with gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, plus an orange twist for a pop of color and citrus aroma. This beloved Italian aperitif is bitter, botanical, and slightly sweet with a mildly syrupy mouthfeel. It’s a strong drink meant for sipping–perfect for the true cocktail lover!
Negronis are also beautifully simple to make. They’re made with equal parts of each spirit, so you’ll have this recipe memorized in no time. There’s no extra syrups, juicing, or even shaking necessary! Plus, Negronis are famously easy to batch and chill in a big pitcher until you’re ready to serve.
Table of Contents
Negroni Ingredients
The Negroni ingredients list is a short one: gin, Campari, and vermouth, which balance each other out nicely.
- Gin brings a crisp, botanical flavor and boozy quality. See “Best Gin for Negroni” below for tips.
- Red vermouth adds sweetness. Too many botanicals can drastically change the flavor profile, so go Italian with Cinzano Rosso or Carpano Antico.
- Campari: Gives the Negroni its signature complex bittersweet taste. This Italian liqueur is made from a blend of herbs and fruits, including bitter orange, rhubarb, ginseng, and cascarilla bark.
- Orange zest (optional): The lovely citrus aroma highlights the citrus in the Campari. While optional, I urge you to try it once and taste the difference!
Ingredient Spotlight: Best Gin for Negronis
I recommend a London Dry-style gin for this Negroni recipe, as they’re reliably dry, crisp, and balanced. This sets them apart from many “sipping gins” that can be overly complex or unusual. Fords Gin is a particular favorite of mine, as it has enough botanical complexity to be interesting with a straightforward flavor profile that works beautifully with the bitter Campari and sweet vermouth.
How to Make a Negroni
A good mixology rule of thumb is: if there is juice, dairy, or egg whites, you shake. If it’s all booze, you stir. There are exceptions, but the classic Negroni recipe follows this formula:
- Stir: Fill a mixing glass (like a pint glass) 3/4 of the way up with ice. Add 3/4-ounce each of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Stir until very cold, then strain it into your serving glass.
- Serve: Optionally, add fresh ice. Squeeze a 1-inch wide strip of orange peel over the glass to express its oils. Pinch and turn to make a twist, and add to the drink as a garnish. Cheers!
- To make a pitcher Negroni: Combine 8 ounces each of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Stir to combine. You can serve right away, or keep in a sealed container in your refrigerator for up to 1 month, or freezer for up to 3 months.
Negroni Variations
This is a tried-and-true classic Negroni recipe, however, this versatile cocktail can be tweaked, changed, and altered to your liking.
- Adjust the bitterness: If you like your drinks a little less bitter, go easy on the Campari. On the other hand, if you love a strong, bitter cocktail, add more Campari and less sweet vermouth.
- Americano: Lower the ABV by switching out the gin for soda water.
- Negroni Fizz: Top the Negroni with soda water to make a Negroni Fizz.
- White Negroni: Use Lillet Blanc instead of sweet vermouth and Suze instead of Campari.
- Boulevardier: Pack a boozy punch with whisky in place of gin.
- Negroni Sbagliato: With Prosecco in it (instead of gin).
What to Serve with Negronis
In true aperitif fashion, Negronis bring on an appetite. They’re best served with appetizers or small bites before the main course.
Serve with Prosciutto e Melone in the summer months when melons are sweet and juicy. Roasted Artichokes are also a lovely match for the Negronis’ herbal qualities, with Aioli on the side for dipping. Or, keep it easy and classic with an Italian-style Antipasto Platter, Cheese and Charcuterie Board, or simply sliced bread with Dipping Oil.
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Negroni (3 Ingredient Cocktail)
Ingredients
- 1 ounce gin (I recommend London Dry-style, like Fords Gin)
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth (I recommend Italian, like Cinzano Rosso or Carpano Antico)
- 1/2 inch orange peel (optional), for garnish
Instructions
- Mix the Negroni: In a mixing glass filled 2/3 with ice, pour in the gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Stir for 20 seconds to chill and mix, and then strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
- Serve: Garnish with the orange peel and serve.
Notes
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- To make a pitcher Negroni: Combine 8 ounces each of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Stir to combine. You can serve right away, or keep in a sealed container in your refrigerator for up to 1 month, or freezer for up to 3 months.
- Ice or no ice? You can serve a Negroni straight up in a coupe glass, or over ice in a rocks glass. Serve over ice if you want something to sip on for a while, or serve up for a stronger drink.
- Go the extra mile: Chill your serving glass. Store for a few hours in your freezer, or fill with ice water and dump before adding the cocktail.
Nutrition
*This post has recently been updated with new information for readers’ benefit.
