There’s something both decadent and comforting about mixing up your own cocktails at home. And for me, the Negroni is the ultimate home serve as it’s just so easy to make.
A Negroni is an equal parts cocktail: this is a drink made up of ingredients measured in identical volumes. To make equal parts cocktails you don’t need any special equipment, you just need one cup or jug or jar – or whatever else you have to hand.
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You then pour equal measures of your different ingredients into a glass and stir to mix. No fiddly measuring – and you’re guaranteed to get the balance of flavour right every single time!
Who invented the Negroni?
But let’s take a step back: when did people first start drinking Negronis? The cocktail was invented in Italy for Count Camillo Negroni.
In 1919 he visited the Caffè Casoni in Florence and requested a drink with more punch than the most popular drink of the day. That drink was the Americano: a mix of Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water.
The café’s bartender, Fosco Scarselli, swapped the soda water for gin, added an orange garnish (instead of the usual lemon) and the rest is history.
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What does a Negroni taste like?
The Negroni has become a classic thanks to the simplicity of Scarselli’s recipe, using equal parts gin, sweet red vermouth and amaro. Together they create a strong, bittersweet, herbal drink.
Alongside the gin, it’s the dry amaro – a herbal liqueur that’s also known as aperitivo or bitters – that helps to make the Negroni such a good aperitif.
Follow the recipe and instructions below to make one yourself at home.
How to make a Negroni
Glass: Rocks
Garnish: Orange peel
Method: Pour the gin, vermouth and Campari into a mixing glass or shaker filled with ice and stir to mix. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish.
30ml gin
30ml sweet red vermouth
30ml Campari
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Twists on the classic
The strong, bittersweet taste of a Negroni can be off-putting for some cocktail lovers. But another benefit of having a simple recipe is that you can easily play with the mix of ingredients, as long as you keep the ratio the same.
Campari is the standard choice for a Negroni, but there are other brands of amaros that are less bitter. Try the Venetian Select Aperitivo as a more approachable option.
Dial things back further by using sweeter Aperol and a rosé vermouth for a less punchy cocktail.
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Alternatively, try a White Negroni (above). This French twist on a Negroni replaces Campari with Suze (a gentian-based French bitter) and uses a French white vermouth Lillet Blanc. It was invented in 2001 by the late and great British bartender Wayne Collins, at drinks trade show VinExpo in Paris.
Collins was taking part in a cocktail competition for Plymouth Gin. His drink won and has gone on to become a modern classic. Flavoured with gentian root, Suze is more delicate than Campari, with dried herbs and citrus peel notes, but the same bittersweet intensity.
How to make a White Negroni
Glass: Rocks
Garnish: Grapefruit twist
Method: Pour the gin, vermouth and Suze into a mixing glass or shaker filled with ice and stir to mix. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish.
30ml gin
30ml white vermouth
30ml Suze
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What gin to use?
Whatever version of the cocktail you prefer, your choice of gin plays a key role in the final flavour of your Negroni. Juniper-led London Dry styles work best here: you’re looking for something that will stand up to the strong, bitter flavours of the Campari, as well as the herbal vermouth.
Alongside the obvious juniper component of London Dry, gins with distinctive botanicals – whether that’s citrus, spice or herbs – can add individual character to your Negroni.
Try experimenting with a couple of my picks below to find your favourite – and enjoy!
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Best gins for a Negroni: 10 to try
Beefeater London Dry
A crowd-pleasing classic for a good reason, Beefeater is a good value London dry with bags of juniper character. Its recipe features nine botanicals: juniper, Seville orange peel, lemon peel, angelica root and seed, coriander seed, orris root, liquorice root and almond. The end result is a rounded, balanced, traditional gin that’s right at home in a Negroni. Alc 40%
Four Pillars Spiced Negroni Gin
Hands down, this Australian gin is my all-time favourite for a Negroni, with botanicals including Tasmanian pepperberry, cinnamon and ginger. Very fresh and punchy on the nose, with clean citrus; the palate offers an immediate spice hit, with cardamom and coriander seeds and a lingering spicy finish. It makes my ultimate classic Negroni. Alc 43.8%
Junipero
Originally created by San Francisco’s iconic Anchor Brewing Company and launched in 1998, Junipero was one of the first spirits that helped to kick-start the US craft gin scene. As you’d expect from the name, there’s lots of juniper here on both the nose and the palate, which is beautifully balanced: its creamy character underlined by rounded spiciness and fresh citrus. With its higher abv, it makes a pleasingly punchy Negroni. Alc 49.3%
Malfy Originale
It seems only fitting to use an Italian gin to mix up a cocktail that was created in Italy. Malfi is distilled near Turin, with a mix of botanicals that includes coriander, cassia and Italian lemons from Sicily and the Amalfi Coast. These create a beautiful zesty citrus freshness on the nose and palate, which is clean and crisp with a gently lingering dry spice note. Malfy lends a lovely lemony lift to your Negroni. Alc 41%
Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin
Hailing from Germany’s Black Forest, Monkey has a whopping 47 botanicals (the clue’s in the name…) They include six different types of pepper, cloves, hawthorn berries, lavender and fruity lingonberries, which create a melange of fruit, spice and herbs on the structured palate. With big and complex flavours – but still balanced – Monkey 47 is a pricier option, but it’s particularly enjoyable in a Negroni. Alc 47%
Oxley
Cold-distillation using frozen citrus peels gives Oxley its USP. Herbaceous aromas with punchy citrus and dry spice lead to a very spicy palate, rounded out by sweet orange notes. A bartender favourite; pair it with Martini Rosso Vermouth and Martini Bitter in your Negroni. Alc 47%
Portobello Road No 171
This traditional London Dry gin, produced in London’s Notting Hill, is a great-value, old-style classic that works well in a whole range of gin cocktails. It’s always a reliable choice for a decent Negroni. The nose is juniper-led with white pepper and lemon citrus; while the palate has a clean, focused juniper character, with a nicely judged overlay of spice. Alc 42%
Plymouth Navy Strength
This over-proof gin was supplied to the British Royal Navy for almost 200 years and it will certainly keep your Negroni afloat. A bold style with a classic mix of botanicals including: juniper, orange and lemon peel, angelica root, orris root and cardamom. Juniper-led with bright zesty citrus on the palate. Alc 57%
Rutte Dry Gin
The Dutch kick-started our global love-affair with juniper spirits, known in Holland as genever. Made in the Netherlands, Rutte’s botanical mix includes fennel, which adds a pleasing herbal note to the palate that complements the vermouth in a Negroni. Alc 43%
Tanqueray No 10
With its citrus-led botanical mix of lemons, oranges and blood grapefruit, Tanqueray is beautifully balanced, which makes it a great choice for cocktails and a versatile addition to your home bar. Ten takes its name from the number 10 pot still – nicknamed Tiny Ten – where it’s distilled. Adds citrus character to your Negroni, picking up on the orange garnish. Alc 47.3%
