The recipe
for your table
Fill a tumbler with one large ice cube or several large ice cubes.
Pour the gin, Campari and vermouth into the glass.
Stir gently with a bar spoon for 20 seconds until the mixture is well chilled.
Garnish with half an orange slice or a squeezed orange zest.
The story
Florence, 1919. Count Camillo Negroni found his usual Americano just a little too tame and asked bartender Fosco Scarselli to replace the soda water with gin. The rest is history: the drink was named after the count and grew into the very symbol of Italian aperitivo culture. More than a hundred years later, the Negroni is more popular than ever; for several years now, it has consistently ranked among the world’s most ordered cocktails. Not bad for a drink with just three ingredients.
The right glass
A Negroni belongs in a sturdy, low-built tumbler. The wide glass leaves room for a large ice cube and allows the aromas of orange and herbs to come through beautifully. Choose one with a thick base and a capacity of 30 to 38 cl: it feels luxurious and keeps your drink cold for longer. A glass with a textured or faceted design looks especially striking against the cocktail’s deep red colour. You’ll find more wide models with a thick base in our tumbler glasses.
RCR Alkemist Tumbler 35 cl (6 pieces)
Chef & Sommelier Vigne Kwarx Tumbler 31 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets — €63.90 together, free shipping from €50.
Variations & twists
The Negroni is a family: with bourbon it becomes a Boulevardier, with prosecco a Sbagliato, and with dry white vermouth a White Negroni. In September, bars and restaurants worldwide take part in Negroni Week—a great time to add your own variation to the menu. Also delicious: let it sit with orange peel for half an hour to 'fat-wash' it. Need more inspiration? Browse all 80 cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Put the glasses, gin, and vermouth in the refrigerator half an hour in advance: the colder the starting point, the less the ice will dilute the drink. Serve with a small bowl of green olives for the complete aperitivo experience.
The 1:1:1 ratio explained
Three times 3 cl: gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in equal parts. That symmetry is why you never forget the recipe, but it is not a rule. If you find it too bitter, use 4 cl gin to 3 cl Campari and 3 cl vermouth; the gin pushes the bitterness slightly into the background. Conversely, using 2 cl gin makes it more approachable without losing its character. Always measure with a jigger, because with equal parts, you can immediately taste a half-centiliter deviation in the glass.
How much alcohol is in a Negroni
Gin generally contains 40 to 47 percent alcohol, Campari 25 percent, and sweet vermouth 15 to 18 percent. With equal parts, you end up at approximately 27 percent before the ice does its work. Stirring for twenty seconds over a large ice cube dilutes the drink by roughly one-fifth, bringing it to around 22 percent in the glass. That is strong for 9 cl of liquid, comparable to a double shot. Also allow for about 240 calories per glass, mainly from the sugar in the Campari and vermouth.
Batching Negronis in a bottle for a group
Because it contains no citrus, this cocktail is ideal for making ahead. For ten glasses, combine 30 cl gin, 30 cl Campari, and 30 cl sweet vermouth in a bottle and add 18 cl water; the water replaces the dilution you would normally achieve by stirring. Seal the bottle and refrigerate for at least four hours or freeze overnight. To serve, pour about 10.5 cl over a large ice cube and garnish with orange zest. No stirring at the table is needed.
Negroni, Sbagliato, or Boulevardier
Three drinks with the same backbone of Campari and sweet red vermouth. In the Sbagliato, 3 cl of prosecco replaces the gin, taking it from approximately 22 percent to around 11 and making the whole drink lighter and fizzier. In the Boulevardier, 4.5 cl of bourbon takes the place of the gin; vanilla and oak make it rounder and more wintry. If you want something completely different, try the White Negroni with Suze and Lillet Blanc. All four are served the same way: stirred, ice-cold, and with orange.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Negroni made of?
A Negroni consists of equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet red vermouth: 3 cl of each, stirred over a large ice cube and garnished with half a slice or a zest of orange. Three ingredients, a 1:1:1 ratio, and absolutely nothing else.
How do you make the perfect Negroni?
Stir the gin, Campari, and vermouth over a large ice cube for twenty seconds, so the cocktail gets cold without becoming watered down. Chill the glasses and bottles beforehand, and squeeze the oils from an orange zest over the glass; see our old fashioned glasses.
How much alcohol is in a Negroni?
Approximately one quarter. Gin at 40 percent, Campari at 25 percent, and vermouth at around 15 percent, in equal parts, add up to about 26 percent. Stirring with ice dilutes the cocktail slightly, so you ultimately drink it at around 20 percent alcohol.
Is a Negroni delicious?
That depends on your taste for bitterness: the Negroni is spicy, bittersweet, and robust, and many people need two before it clicks. If you find it too intense, try the Negroni Sbagliato, in which prosecco replaces the gin.
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