This Negroni recipe is an Italian staple cocktail. I’ll show you how to make the perfect Negroni with the classic four ingredients: gin, sweet vermouth, Campari, and a twist of orange peel!
Save the Recipe!
Negronis have a very special place in my heart! My now-husband, Eric, introduced me to the Negroni when we were dating. I was always the girl who went to a bar and didn’t know what to order (and never liked what I ordered). Eric took the reins and ordered a Negroni for me, and it’s been my favorite cocktail ever since!
In fact, it was our signature cocktail at our wedding. Also Eric is 50 percent Italian, and he grew up surrounded by a family of Italian restauranteurs, so you could say I take my Negronis very seriously!
The recipe below is the perfect mix of bitter, sweet, citrusy and refreshing – just as refreshing as my other favorite gin cocktail – a French 75!
Fall in love with this bright red cocktail, just like I did a few moons ago.
Negroni Ingredients
You only need 4 ingredients to make a perfect Negroni! Here they are:
- Dry gin – London dry gin is classic. I like to use either Tanqueray No. 10 or Beefeater (a bit more burn)!
- Campari – Campari is an Italian liqueur that’s bright red and a blend of bitter, sweet and citrusy.
- Sweet vermouth – sweet vermouth is fortified wine that’s both sweet and bitter with complex flavors of dried fruit, spices, and citrus.
- Orange peel – you’ll need a regular navel orange! In my recipe, we not only use orange peel as a garnish, but a strip of orange is added before mixing the cocktail to infuse it with even more orange! It’s my secret tip.
How to Make a Negroni
Here’s how to make the best Negroni! Full details are in the recipe card below; this is just an outline.
Add the ingredients. Add gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and a piece of orange peel into a mixing glass filled with ice.
Stir them up. Stir for about 20 seconds.
Strain it. Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass (Old Fashioned glass).
Garnish it. Twist another piece of orange peel over the glass. Rub the piece of orange peel around the rim of the glass, and then drop it in the glass for garnish. Enjoy!
Variations
If you’re looking for some fun variations, here are a few ways to shake things up:
- Boulevardier: replace the gin with bourbon or rye whiskey for a richer, warmer take.
- Negroni Sbagliato: instead of gin, use sparkling wine like prosecco!
- White Negroni: this version swaps out the Campari for Suze (bright yellow, bitter and earthy-herbal), and the sweet vermouth for a dry option like Lillet Blanc.
- Mezcal Negroni: replace the gin with mezcal, giving the cocktail a smoky, earthy flavor.
- Aperol Negroni (or “Contemporary Negroni”): use Aperol instead of Campari for a lighter, less bitter version.
My Pro Tip
Expert Tips
If you don’t have a large square or round ice cube (which is classic), use regular ice cubes!
If you don’t have a rocks glass, use a regular lowball water glass.
Use a vegetable peeler to create strips of orange peel from a navel orange.
If you like your cocktails kicky, add an extra ½ ounce of gin.
FAQs
A Negroni has a bittersweet, citrusy flavor profile! The gin provides herbal, kicky notes, the vermouth adds sweetness and a velvety mouthfeel, and the Campari adds bittersweet citrusy notes. Overall, it’s refreshing, citrusy, sweet yet bitter, and complex.
Campari is the OG classic but Aperol creates a lighter, less bitter version.
Use good London dry gin, like Tanqueray No. Ten gin or Beefeater gin (if you like a bit more burn), for a great Negroni!
Martini & Rossi Rosso is a good affordable and widely available option. If you want to step it up even more, try Carpano Antica Formula that’s richer and more intense, or Cocchi Vermouth di Torino that’s especially aromatic and balanced.
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If you’ve tried this Negroni Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you are here!
Classic Negroni Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker or mixing glass with strainer
Ingredients
- 1 ounce dry gin
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- Ice, regular ice cubes + a large square or round ice cube to serve
- Orange peel
Instructions
- Add gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and a piece of orange peel into a mixing glass or cocktail shaker filled with enough ice to chill the ingredients.
- Stir for about 20 seconds or until well chilled.
- Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass (Old Fashioned glass).
- Twist another piece of orange peel over the glass, expressing the oils. Rub the piece of orange peel around the rim of the glass, and then drop the peel into the glass for garnish. Enjoy right away!
Video
Notes
- Tanqueray No. Ten gin or Beefeater gin (if you like a bit more burn) are my favorites!
- Don’t have a large square or round ice cube? No problem. Just use regular ice cubes!
- Don’t have a rocks glass? Use a regular lowball water glass.
- Use a vegetable peeler to remove two strips of the orange peel from a regular navel orange.
- My husband loves shaken Negronis, as you see in the video below. Although this is not as traditional, feel free to shake your cocktail if you’d like!
- Prefer a bit more kick? Add an extra ½ ounce of gin.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe is better than the Negroni’s in Italy!!!
That’s what I like to hear!!
Grace
I have never had a Negroni, but I am a fan of your recipes so I thought I would give it a try. This is my new favorite drink! Delicious!
That’s awesome! Thank you so much for being a supporter of my site 🙂
Grace
This recipe is perfection! The best cocktail!
Yay, love hearing this!
Grace