Ahh, the Negroni. Such a simple and beautiful cocktail. It’s been around for over 100 years and still as popular as ever, and for good reason. An exquisite balance between its slightly bitter palate and being super refreshing. Both gin cocktails and less sweet cocktails are rightfully having their moment, so it should be no surprise that the Negroni is getting a lot of love. For us it is a perfect aperitif cocktail, or equally soothing at the end of the evening.

negroni cocktail on the counter

Classic Negroni Cocktail Recipe

The classic Negroni is about as simple it gets to remember the ratios. 1 part Gin, 1 part Campari, and 1 part sweet vermouth. The simpler the cocktail, the more the details matter and the key to making an excellent Negroni is in your alcohol selection. There are so many amazing gins out there today and their flavor profiles will be all over the place.

Video: Watch How to Make a Negroni Cocktai

Which Alcohol to Use

We prefer a gin like Hendricks, Tanqueray Rangpur, or similar for this cocktail. They have a nice balance between their herbaceousness with a touch of a citrus element. Campari is the classic second element. Its bitterness is key flavor for the negroni which will get balanced by the gin and sweet vermouth. Here’s a great group of suggestions for Campari substitutes for negronis. For the vermouth, use a sweet vermouth to balance the bitterness of the Campari. We like the Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, but use what you have or prefer.

Negroni (Gin Cocktail)

Yield: 1 cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
For those who don't like a sweet cocktail. A balance of bitter and refreshing. We prefer a gin like Hendricks, Tanqueray Rangpur, or similar for this cocktail. For the sweet vermouth, we like the Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, but use what you have or prefer. We love the classic 1:1:1 ratio for the negroni. Easy as it gets to remember and is delicious.
You can make it in a shaker, then strain it into an ice filled glass for an extra chill. But since it is such an easy drink and there is nothing needing to be strained out of the cocktail, we'll often just make it straight into the ice filled glass & stir to chill. Saves a few things needing to be washed.
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Ingredients

  • 1 oz. (30 ml) Gin
  • 1 oz. (30 ml) Campari
  • 1 oz. (30 ml) Sweet Vermouth
  • (optional) Simple Syrup , to taste
  • 1 Orange Peel

Instructions 

Shaker Method

  • In a shaker filled with ice, add the gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. If desired, add a touch of simple syrup. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
    Measure ingredients
  • Add ice to a double old-fashioned glass. Strain the negroni into the ice filled glass, twist the orange peel over the cocktail and then slide it into the drink and enjoy.
    Peeling an orange for the garnish on a negroni cocktail recipe from whiteonricecouple.com

Stir Method

  • Add ice to a double old-fashioned glass. Add the gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. If desired, add a touch of simple syrup. Stir to chill & mix then twist the orange peel over the cocktail, slide it into the drink and enjoy.
    Pour directly into glass

Notes

Note 1: A basic simple syrup is a 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in water. We’ll usually make 1 cup sugar heated & dissolved in 1 cup of water. Let it cool before using. We usually make larger batches and keep on hand in the refrigerator.

Video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 196kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 27mg, Sugar: 2g
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 196
finished negroni cocktail on counter

Appetizers to Serve with Negroni Cocktail

We love having some type of appetizer, snack or crunchy when serving cocktails. Here’s a list of some of our most popular and easy apps to serve:

top down looking into negroni cocktail