Negroni

This simple Negroni recipe is a simple and refreshing Italian cocktail made with 3 ingredients. Enjoy it with a bold dinner featuring salty meats or before as an aperitif!

Ready for another fantastic bartender-approved drink? It’s an easy cocktail to make, and it’s actually preceded by the Americano. Now I don’t drink often, but I do love to try out fun cocktails. Especially when they’re bright and citrusy like this Italian treat, the Negroni!

While this drink is alcohol-forward, even light drinkers will be able to appreciate the balance of flavors. The sweet vermouth paired with the flavor of bitters from the Campari, and the gin made complete with citrus. It’s amazing to me they were able to create such a perfect drink with just 3 ingredients.

What is a Negroni?

According to Wikipedia, the origins of the Negroni are unknown but many believe it originated in Florence, Italy in 1919 at a cafe now called Caffe Cavalli. The story is that Count Camillo Negroni asked the bartender to strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by adding gin rather than the normal soda water. The bartender also added an orange garnish rather than the typical lemon garnish.

And thus the Negroni was born!

Ingredients

Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for a list of FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!

• Gin – Use your favorite brand.
• Campari – See below for substitutes.
• Sweet vermouth – See below for substitutes.
• Orange – For garnish. Lemon will also work, which is what I used since I didn’t have an orange.

Substitutions

Sometimes you can’t find what you’re looking for but are still craving this refreshing citrusy gin cocktail. No fear! There are some workarounds you can use.

Campari: This orange flavored aperitif can be substituted with Aperol. This is also a nice option if you’re looking to tone down the alcohol content of this cocktail as it’s usually half the ABV of Campari.

Sweet vermouth: Popular brands such as Cinzano, Martini & Rossi, Dolin, and Carpano are great options to use. Port wine or sweet Madeira can work instead.

How to make a Negroni

1. Add the gin, Campari, and vermouth to a cocktail shaker with ice. Stir with a bar spoon for 10-20 seconds, then strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with a twist of orange and serve.

How to serve a Negroni

If you don’t have a giant ice cube tray, I know they aren’t exactly a household item, you can pour your Negroni into a glass filled with regular ice. I promise it’ll taste just as good! If you’re looking for some food pairings for your Negroni, give these recipes a try:

• Bacon Beer and Cheese Soup
• Sweet Chicken Bacon Bites
• Spaghetti Carbonara
• Cacio e Pepe

Check out these fantastic cocktail recipe you can make from home:

• Americano
• Aperol Spritz
• Manhattan Drink
• Margarita
• Dark and Stormy
• Mojito Recipe
• Whiskey Sour
• Pomegranate Cider Mimosa