Aperitivi
Negroni
The short answer
A Negroni is equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred with ice and served over one large cube with an orange peel.
- Style
- Bitter, stirred, 24% ABV
- Glass
- Rocks glass with one large cube
- Strength
- About 24% ABV
Where it comes from
Florence, 1919. Count Camillo Negroni asked the bartender at Caffè Casoni to strengthen his Americano by swapping the soda water for gin. The bartender swapped the lemon garnish for orange to mark the change, and the most copied Italian cocktail in the world was on the menu by the end of the week.
What you need
- 1 oz (30 ml) London dry gin
- 1 oz (30 ml) Campari
- 1 oz (30 ml) sweet vermouth, preferably Vermouth di Torino
- 1 wide strip of orange peel
- 1 large clear ice cube
How Larry builds it
- 01
Chill everything. Put the rocks glass and the big cube in the freezer while you measure.
- 02
Build in the mixing glass. Pour gin, Campari and vermouth over plenty of ice in a mixing glass.
- 03
Stir, do not shake. Stir 30 seconds with a bar spoon. You are chilling and adding about 20% water — both matter.
- 04
Strain and garnish. Strain over the big cube, twist the orange peel skin-down over the surface to spray the oils, then drop it in.
Larry’s rule: Stir 30 seconds. Never shake — a cloudy Negroni is a confession.
Variations worth making
Negroni Sbagliato
Swap gin for Prosecco. Lighter, sparkling, and the version to make for a table of six.
Boulevardier
Swap gin for bourbon. Rounder and warmer — the winter Negroni.
White Negroni
Gin, Suze and Lillet Blanc. Same bitter shape, pale gold in the glass.
Negroni on tap
Batch 1:1:1 with 20% water by volume, bottle it and keep it in the fridge for a month.
Questions people ask
Should a Negroni be shaken or stirred?
Stirred, always. Shaking aerates the drink and turns it cloudy; a Negroni should be clear and heavy in the glass.
What gin is best in a Negroni?
A juniper-forward London dry at 43% ABV or higher. Soft, floral gins disappear behind the Campari.
Can I make a Negroni ahead of time?
Yes. Batch the three parts equally, add 20% water to account for stirring, and refrigerate. Pour straight over ice.
What to eat with it
More from Aperitivi
← All 67 Italian drinksQuoting or citing this drink? Credit “Uncle Larry Adventures” and link to https://unclelarryadventures.com/beverages/negroni.