Negroni Recipe (Classic Italian Aperitif) (2024)

Sometimes reinventing the wheel is fun. Other times, you just want a classic Italian aperitif. When that's the case, it doesn't get better than a Negroni. Here's how to make a great one.

Why we love this recipe

If you ask me, the Negroni is a perfect drink. It’s bracing and beautiful and balanced like a ballet dancer en pointe. This classic recipe is:

• Stiff, bitter, a little bit sweet, and a little bit herbal
• A gorgeous, party-dress red
• An absolute staple of Italian culture

What you'll need

Here's a glance at the ingredients you'll need to make this recipe.

• You'll start with a goodLondon dry gin, which contributes bracing strength and herbal notes. You can refer to the section below for my recommendations if you don't already have a favorite in mind.
• Luckily, there's nothing more straightforward than buying a ruby-red bottle ofCampari. This Italian bittersweet aperitif has a smooth yet complex flavor profile, with notes of rhubarb, clove, orange, cinnamon, and cherry. It's bitter and herbal and a little astringent and just so good.
• True to its name, sweet vermouth does bring a bit of sweetness to this drink. But it also tastes of bark and spice and has a little bit of acidity. You've got several great options. You can't go wrong with my favorite Carpano Antica. Other good choices: Punt e Mes (which is more bitter), Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino (well-balanced), and even Dolin.
• Anorange slice or twistis the traditional garnish, and I like to use the simplest variation for this straightforward drink. Just grab your vegetable peeler and swipe a thin, mostly pith-free sliver of peel from a well-washed orange.

What gin is best for a Negroni?

I've been an almost reflexive fan ofBombay Sapphiresince I started drinking gin, and it makes a great Negroni. It's a smooth, super-drinkable midpriced London Dry that thrives in a wide variety of co*cktails. That said, my personal affinity has as much to do with timing as anything. Diageo sold the brand to Bacardi in 1997, and I graduated from college and moved to NYC in 1998. Sapphire was everywhere and felt fancy to me then. The rest is history.

I also tend to have a bottle of eitherHendricksorTanquerayon hand at all times and often use one of those in this Italian aperitif.DrumshanboGunpowder Irish Gin, Plymouth, The Botanist, and Aviation would all make great choices, too.

How to make it

Here's an overview of what you'll do to make a fabulous Negroni. You can see the steps in action in the video that accompanies this post, and get all the details in the recipe card below.

1. Place plenty of ice into a mixing glass and pour in the gin.
2. Add vermouth and Campari.
3. Stir well until chilled.
4. Strain into an ice-filled single old-fashioned glass, garnish with twist of orange peel or a small slice of orange, and serve.

Expert tips and FAQs

More favorite Negroni variations

• Boulevardier
• Mezcal Negroni
• Unusual Negroni
• Americano

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