How to Make a Classic Negroni

A good Negroni is the very definition of balance and simplicity. It’s the original 1:1:1 cocktail meaning you use equal ratios of all the ingredients to create this classic cocktail. Besides this drink being incredibly well-balanced, it’s also one that’s hard to mess up. This means that no matter where you are, either staying at home or out for a night on the town, if you order a Negroni, you’re more or less guaranteed a great drink.

A Negroni is a classic way to begin a meal in Italy. This bittersweet drink is the perfect palette cleanser to start off with.

More Classic Cocktails: Martini, Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Mojito, Cosmo, Gimlet.

History of a Negroni

The most widely reported version of this drink’s origin is that it was invented at Caffe Casoni in Florence, Italy in 1919. Legend says that Count Camillo Negroni asked the bartender, Forsco Scarselli, to make a stronger version of his favorite cocktail—The Americano (Campari, sweet vermouth, club soda)—by replacing the soda water with gin. And so the Negroni was born!

Ingredients in a Negroni

• Gin Choose a London Dry-style gin.
• Campari An Italian liqueur made from a blend of fruit including bitter orange, rhubarb, ginseng, and cascarilla bark. This liqueur gives the cocktail most of its flavor.
• Sweet Vermouth
• Orange Peel Choose an orange twist to garnish.

The best glassware choice for a Negroni is a rocks glass. You will also want to prepare a giant ice cube for this drink.

How to make a Negroni Cocktail

1. First, add the gin, Campari and sweet vermouth to a double rocks glass. You won’t need a mixing glass for this recipe, you can mix it right in the glass you will serve it in.
2. Then add ice. In this case, I used one large cube. Stir.
3. Garnish with an orange twist by gently expressing the oils on top by pressing the peel. Wipe the rim of your glass with the orange twist and then placing it in your drink.

Negroni Variations and related drinks

• Negroni Sbagliato This variation replaces gin with prosecco for a lighter, fizzier version. Oh, Stunning!
• Americano Replace the gin with soda water and serve this drink in a highball glass. It’s a similar, but lighter version of a Negroni.
• Boulevardier Replace the gin for bourbon and you will make this classic drink. It is also sometimes called a Bourbon Negroni.
• Mezcal Negroni Replace gin for mezcal and you have this unique variation.
• Rum Negroni Replace gin for dark rum and you have a Rum Negroni

Tips for Making

• If you want a to lighten up your cocktail just a bit, add soda water to the top to make it as Negroni Fizz.
• Garnish with an orange twist by gently expressing the oils on top by pressing the peel. Wipe the rim of your glass with the orange twist and then placing it in your drink.
• Turn this into a pitcher recipe by making 8x this recipe and serving it in a pitcher.

Serving Suggestions

• Dinner Party If you are hosting a dinner party, try pairing this cocktail with these three party appetizers to start and 30+ Easy Finger foods for a party.
• Date Night at Home For a fancy night at home pair a couple Sidecar cocktails with steak and chimichurri sauce (Chef’s kiss!)
• Birthday Party Pair this with birthday cake cookies and cake pops.

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4.60 from 5 votes

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Get the Recipe

Learn to make a classic Negroni cocktail at home.

Yield 1 person

Prep 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 oz. gin
• ▢ 1 oz. Campari
• ▢ 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• ▢ orange twist (for garnish)

Equipment

• ▢
  1 rocks glass

Instructions

• First, add all your ingredients to a double rocks glass. Then add ice, in this case, I used one large cube, and stir.
• Garnish with an orange twist by gently expressing the oils on top by pressing the peel. Wipe the rim of your glass with the orange twist and then placing it in your drink.

Notes

• If you want a to lighten up your cocktail just a bit, add soda water to the top to make it as Negroni Fizz.
• Garnish with an orange twist by gently expressing the oils on top by pressing the peel. Wipe the rim of your glass with the orange twist and then placing it in your drink.
• Turn this into a pitcher recipe by making 8x this recipe and serving it in a pitcher.

© Author Natalie Jacob

Course Drinks

Cuisine Italian

Keywords negroni

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Classic Negroni

Amount per Serving

Calories

98

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

0.2

g

0

%

Saturated Fat

 

0.1

g

1

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

0.04

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

0.04

g

Sodium

 

4

mg

0

%

Potassium

 

118

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

 

13

g

4

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

0.5

g

1

%

Protein

 

1

g

2

%

Vitamin C

 

1

mg

1

%

Calcium

 

5

mg

1

%

Iron

 

0.2

mg

1

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.