Negroni

A bittersweet Italian classic of equal parts gin, red bitter aperitif and sweet vermouth, served over ice with half an orange slice.

24.5% ABV
Built in the glass
2 min
Rocks glass
bitter
herbal
strong
sweet
IBA official cocktail · The Unforgettables

about 1.4 standard drinks (US, 14 g of alcohol). Estimated after dilution with ice.

Ingredients

1 ozLondon dry ginOld Tom gin is a possible swap, but it is slightly sweeter and gives a softer, less dry Negroni.
1 ozRed bitter aperitifThe classic recipe calls for a bitter red Italian aperitif. Choose one with a comparable bitter-orange profile.
1 ozSweet (red) vermouthChoose a fresh bottle: its herbal sweetness shapes the whole drink.
0.5 sliceOrangeUse half a slice, as in the IBA specification.

Ice: Ice cubes · Garnish: orange

Method

Chill a rocks glass, then fill it with ice cubes.
Pour 30 ml gin, 30 ml red bitter aperitif and 30 ml sweet vermouth directly into the glass.
Stir gently for about 15 seconds to chill the drink and dilute it slightly.
Garnish with half an orange slice.

Tips

Replace the gin with bourbon or rye whiskey and you get a Boulevardier, which is usually made with a little more whiskey.
Other bitter liqueurs, such as an Italian amaro or a light orange aperitif, make a different, often sweeter or milder drink. Taste and adjust rather than swapping them one for one.
Store opened vermouth in the fridge and use it within a few weeks, as it oxidizes and loses its aroma.

Swaps

Missing something? These swaps change the taste a little but keep the drink balanced.

London dry gin → Old Tom gin

History

The Negroni is often credited to Count Camillo Negroni, who is said to have asked a bartender in Florence, around 1919, to strengthen his Americano by replacing the soda water with gin. The story is widely repeated but hard to verify in detail. Today it is an IBA official cocktail.