If you’re looking for a spiffing cocktail that’ll entice your guests to say words like ‘wow,’ ‘delicious’, and ‘we are not worthy to stand in the presence of your cocktail-making genius’, then you can’t go wrong with a good old fashioned Negroni. (Not to be confused with the equally delicious Gin Old Fashioned.)
A winning combination of Campari, gin and vermouth, this oh-so-sippable creation boasts associations of Italian style and la bella vita. It’s earned its place as one of the world’s most popular cocktails. With its seductive shade of vermillion and delectable bitterness, this is a stylish sip that’s at home in a smoulderingly suave jazz bar and a cosy celebration with your BFFs. It’s one of our favourite gin cocktails for good reason.
So, if you’re looking for a Negroni cocktail recipe, you’ve come to the right place. All you need to do is read on (okay, you’ll also have to make it, but that’s the fun bit).
The Origin of the Negroni
To understand the Negroni, you may wish to swot up on a thing or two about how it all began. Like all classic cocktails, this one’s story began many moons ago. More precisely, in 1919 when Count Camillo Negroni marched into the Caffè Casoni in Florence.
The bartender was asked to make a stronger version of an Americano – a cocktail made with equal parts Campari, sweet vermouth and soda – and decided to swap out the soda water for gin. The rest, as they say, is history.
Or is it? Keep searching for the origins of the Negroni, and you’ll glimpse a second origin story emerging from the mists of time – one that features Count Pascal Negroni from France. In this version, the reimagined cocktail wasn’t an Americano, but a Milano-Torino, which is believed to predate it.
That’s enough about the past for now though, let’s zip forward again to the present day. You’ve got a cocktail to make!
The Negroni
Do All Parts Have To Be Equal?
The classic recipe simply calls for 1:1:1 ratios of its three main ingredients (gin, Campari and sweet vermouth), and so it’s nice and easy to remember.
While this classic Negroni recipe produces a reliably delicious tipple, we sometimes like to nudge up the proportion of gin a little, to create a beautifully balanced sipping sensation.
Picking Out The Best Ingredients
As with some of our favourite Italian dishes, the finest taste sensations can be the result of combining just a few perfectly selected, top quality ingredients.
With that in mind, what kind of vermouth is the right one? Well, when it comes to picking your sweet vermouth, there are a number of options to peruse. We find that Carpano Antica is a fantastic all-rounder for Negronis, while Cinzano Rosso also works nicely (likewise, Martini Rosso). If it’s extra bitterness and complexity you’re after, the rich, potent Punt e Mes is also a shrewd selection.
When it comes to a garnish, orange is the most popular choice for good reason. Some like to flame their twists, while others prefer to drop in a whole slice for a bonus citrus flourish. There’s no singular correct answer here, it just depends on your mood. So what’ll it be?
How Should You Serve It?
The classic Negroni recipe might be simple, but it still leaves some mysteries to be solved. Should it be served straight up or on the rocks? Shaken, or stirred? Let’s take a look.
First of all, do you need to shake it? A short answer, for a short drink: no.
Cocktails that include fruit juice often have to be shaken, to avoid the juice emulsifying. Like any short cocktail that doesn’t include fruit juice, however, a perfect Negroni doesn’t need to be shaken at all. In fact, shaking will dilute it. The best way to create your Negroni is to simply layer up your ingredients in a tumbler over ice.
Unlike a classic Martini, the Negroni works wonderfully either straight up or on the rocks. And however you enjoy yours, there’s no need to compromise on coldness. If you’re making one without ice, just stir the ingredients over a few cubes and then strain it into a chilled coupette.
Personally speaking, we’re partial to enjoying ours on the rocks for its sunny, aperitif quality. By adding a single large block or sphere of ice, you’ve got a great way to chill your cocktail without over-diluting it, and it helps conjure up that elevated Negroni look, too. Splendid.
The Perfect Negroni Recipe
- 25ml Sipsmith London Dry Gin
- 25ml Campari
- 25ml sweet vermouth (Carpano Antica, Cinzano Rosso, or Punt e Mes)
In a mixing glass, give all three ingredients a few quick turns over ice until combined. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice block or sphere (or no ice, if that’s your preference) and garnish with an orange twist or slice.
Twists On The Classic
Just because this is our ideal way to make a Negroni, doesn’t mean there aren’t oodles of excellent alternatives out there.
For instance, if you want to add fruitier flavours, you could add a sumptuous bit of berry by using a sloe gin Negroni recipe instead. Using 15ml each of Sipsmith London Dry Gin, Sipsmith Sloe Gin, vermouth and Campari, this recipe makes for a luxurious taste indeed.
Once you have perfected this, time to experiment by mixing up a White Negroni with Lillet and Luxardo Bitter Bianco or any other gin and vermouth cocktails, such as a blush-pink Clover Club or zesty St Clement’s Fizz. Or try your hand at some of our other delicious Negroni twists.
A Setting For Sipping
We’ve established that perfecting your Negroni-making skills is a fantastic way to become the toast of the town when it comes to hosting with the mosting. But it’s not only about the exquisitely vermillion concoction itself. To make the perfect Negroni, think about ways to make your environment exactly where you want to be in the world.
Consider senses from sight to sound. Light jazz with a swinging beat will please the ears and tap the feet, and you can enhance the ambience with dim lighting, as well preparing your perfect place to perch once your beverage is ready to roll. Last but by no means least, don’t forget the most important ingredient of all: the good company of a fab friend, partner or loved one to toast your terrific tipple with.
Once you’ve made your Negroni, don’t forget to share a picture of it on social media and tag us so we can admire your skills, too. Happy sipping!
