The art of the negroni takes many forms, and if you do a little bit of digging on the internet, you’ll be delighted to find a wealth of people with strong opinions about the drink’s origins as well as how a proper negroni should be made. That said, the striking, sanguine drink is easy to mix together and unlike many cocktails, requires no expensive, fancy equipment.
The “standard” recipe, if you will, calls for an equal 1:1:1 ratio of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, served over a single large square ice cube and garnished with an orange peel. However, many connoisseurs of the humble negroni insist that the gin should carry slightly more weight than the other two ingredients. Others add bitters to enhance the bitterness of the Campari, but that’s a particularly heated debate in the cocktail lovers’ forums.
The bottom line is that no matter what your personal favorite ratio is, the negroni is a simple cocktail that’s damn near impossible to mess up, which makes it perfect for a date night when you want to impress without having to stress. Plus, this bitter aperitif is best enjoyed on a warm summer evening in good company.
What you’ll need to make the perfect negroni:
- 1 oz. gin
- 1 oz. sweet vermouth
- 1 oz. Campari
- 1 orange
- 1 large ice cube
First, fill a glass with ice. If you’re looking to impress your date, we’d say spring for the large ice cube tray so that you can use a single cube that’ll melt slowly over time. There are plenty of super affordable ones on Amazon! However, normal ice cubes work perfectly well, so there’s no need to panic if you don’t own a large ice cube tray.
Next, pour one ounce each of Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth over the ice, and stir to combine using a long, thin utensil.
To garnish, (this is optional but highly suggested because of the simple yet impressive theatrics), cut off a long strip of orange peel and rub the inside along the rim of the glass. Then pinch the outside of the peel over the drink to release the essential oils into it, and serve with a mischievous smile.
Aaaand fin! If your date isn’t particularly enamored by the standard negroni, there are countless riffs that the Kitchen Critic staff has fallen in love with. Here are a few variations to try:
White Negroni
The common denominator between a standard negroni and a white negroni is the gin. A delicate blend of Suze gentian liqueur and Lillet blanc is substituted in for the Campari and vermouth, and while the Suze does a good job of mimicking Campari’s bitterness, the overall flavor is light and floral.
Negroni Sbagliato (Broken Negroni)
Similar to an Americano, the broken negroni subs out the gin for bubbles for a slightly less boozy drink than a standard negroni. But instead of soda water, this light and bubbly cocktail is made with prosecco.
Mezcal Negroni
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but the mezcal negroni has gained quite a cult following as a negroni alternative for the less-gin-inclined crowd. Smoky mezcal takes place of gin, creating a completely unique flavor profile that’s just as strong.
