The Negroni is a bitterly delicious classic cocktail. Most variations usually call for just three ingredients, but even those with a lofty four or five ingredients will still be swirling in a glass in no time at all. If you're looking to upgrade your usual Negroni, continue a tasty twist.
Mezcal Negroni
A smokey twist on the negroni, the mezcal base adds the perfect level of complexity to the classic.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce mezcal
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, mezcal, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange slice.
White Negroni
This slightly sweeter take on the classic Negroni isn't white so much as it's a light golden color, but its taste will soon distract you from this.
Ingredients
- 1¾ ounces gin
- 1 ounce Lillet blanc
- ¾ ounce gentian liqueur
- Ice
- Dehydrated lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, Lillet blanc, and gentian liqueur.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into cocktail glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with dehydrated lemon wheel.
Sbagliato Negroni
Don't be fooled by the translation of this drink, which literally means incorrect, but this drink couldn't be more right. This can be served in a Champagne flute or over ice.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce prosecco
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill Champagne flute.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, sweet vermouth, and Campari.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled flute.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with lemon ribbon.
Aperol Negroni
If you want a negroni that isn't as bitter as the classic, Aperol offers a gentle bitter orange flavor for an easier sip.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- 1½ ounces Aperol
- 1½ ounces sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, Aperol, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange twist.
Boulevardier
Almost as well known as the classic cocktail it's based on, there's nothing more than a simple swap of spirits, from gin to bourbon. Or rye, if that's the right journey for you.
Ingredients
- 1¼ ounces bourbon
- 1¼ ounce Campari
- 1¼ ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Lemon peel
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, bourbon, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over king cube.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Rum Negroni
There's no standard name for a rum negroni, as everyone has their own opinion, but a name doesn't matter when it tastes this good.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce dark rum
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, dark rum, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into cocktail glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Quill: The Absinthe Negroni
The name on its own doesn't offer any clues to the type of negroni. The absinthe adds a touch of brightness to a typically bitter cocktail.
Ingredients
- ¼ ounce absinthe
- 1 ounce gin
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add absinthe.
- Rinse to coat the inside of the glass, the discard excess.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Summer Negroni
The blackberry and fruit notes turn the bitter negroni into a slightly sweeter and juicier experience. If you can't locate blackberry gin, then a half-ounce of blackberry simple syrup will do the trick.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces blackberry gin
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Fresh whole blackberries on cocktail skewer for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add blackberry gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and simple syrup.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over king cube.
- Garnish with pierced blackberries.
Campfire Negroni
This recipe calls for extra tools and steps, but the end result is well worth the trouble.
Ingredients
- Wood chips
- Smoking gun or appropriate smoking appliance
- 1¼ ounces gin
- 1¼ ounce Campari
- 1¼ ounce sweet vermouth
- ¼ ounce scotch
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the smoking gun or appliance according to individual instructions.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and scotch.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Smoke negroni for approximately 10-15 seconds.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Dutch Negroni
Despite countless unique and fun town names, this negroni is simply referred to as the Dutch negroni due to the style of gin.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce genever
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, genever, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over king cube.
- Garnish with lemon ribbon.
Grapefruit Negroni
The grapefruit negroni plays with the proportions of the classic while adding a splash of bitter yet refreshing grapefruit juice.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- ¾ ounce Campari
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- Ice
- Orange wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, sweet vermouth, Campari, and grapefruit juice.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange wheel.
One Negroni, Two Negroni, Three Negroni, Four
There's no better problem than not knowing which negroni variation to start with. Whether you go with a different spirit or a smokey flavor, you can enjoy a different style of negroni for any flavor or occasion.
