How to Make the Best Negroni

A negroni cocktail is a classic Italian cocktail that is richly flavored and so delicious. Learning how to make the best negroni is quick and easy. In fact you only need three ingredients as well as some ice plus a slice of orange to garnish each drink. Try out this negroni cocktail with Campari, gin and vermouth and you won’t regret it.

Campari, gin and vermouth combine to make this classic Italian cocktail. Mix an ounce of each, or add a little more gin for a less sweet flavor.

Love trying new cocktails? Try watermelon palomas, cranberry margaritas, rum runners, or sherbet champagne mimosas.

Once you’ve combined the ingredients, just stir the mixture over ice until it’s nicely chilled and then strain it into serving glasses. This cocktail with Campari is both refreshing and decadent. The sweet and tart flavors are incredible together. Once you know how to make the best negroni and the perfect formula, you can make this for your friends!

You can prepare this cocktail with Campari in mere minutes, so it’s not the kind of drink you have to make a pitcher of or prepare ahead. It’s better made fresh anyway.

A Closer Look at the Ingredients

This is first and foremost a cocktail with Campari since that is the main flavour in the drink. Campari is a bright red liqueur with a bittersweet flavour including cherry, clove, cascarilla, cinnamon, rhubarb, and orange.  Some people use Aperol instead of Campari, which is a little sweeter. Personally I like Campari much better.

Gin is also one of the three ingredients in a classic negroni cocktail. If you want to know how to make the best negroni, you’ll want to know which kind of gin works best. Pick something bold with juniper flavours so it stands up to the vibrant Campari taste.

As for the vermouth, choose a sweet one. Martini Rosso, Cinzano Rosso or Carpano Antica would be great in this classic Italian cocktail. Once you have combined the Campari, gin and vermouth, you can mix this cocktail with Campari over ice cubes then strain. If you prefer an iced drink, just serve it on the rocks.

A slice of fresh orange is the perfect garnish. Either drop in a whole slice for a boost of citrus or hang it over the rim of the glass. Some people like to use a twist of lemon rather than a slice of orange, so just go with whichever appeals to you most.

What Glasses Should You Use for Negroni?

Knowing how to make the best negroni also means how to serve it. Traditionally, a martini glass or old-fashioned glass is perfect for serving this classic Italian cocktail.

If you’re making it at home though, anything goes really! This mouth-watering negroni cocktail is going to taste just as good out of any glass so don’t worry if you don’t have martini or old-fashioned glasses. Small tumblers are fine.

When is Negroni a Good Choice?

A Campari, gin and vermouth cocktail, or a negroni, is an aperitif, which means it’s served before dinner. Because it’s served chilled, it’s good for warmer weather (so, right about now since spring is here/will be soon!)

History of the Negroni Cocktail

If you are learning how to make the best negroni, you’ll also want to know its history. It dates back to 1919 in Italy. Count Negroni ordered an Americano but replacing the club soda with gin.

This Count was actually a working cowboy travelling across the US. It gained popularity after that and also experienced a revival in 2014 when ‘Negroni Week’ was first a thing!

Variations of this Classic Italian Cocktail

Something I love about this drink is its simplicity. There are only three main ingredients, the Campari, gin and vermouth, and you use equal measures of each. This makes the recipe super easy to remember.

Like any other cocktail recipe though, there are variations. It’s usually stirred with ice rather than shaken. This is because shaking a cocktail allows air into it and it just isn’t necessary when making a negroni. You can still use a shaker if you want to though!

A negroni sbagliato is made with prosecco or champagne rather than the gin. A cin-cyn cocktail is made with Cynar (pronounced CHEE-nar) instead of Campari. It’s lower in alcohol than Campari and has a lighter flavour.

It’s made with artichokes too. Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like them! It tastes sweet and bitter, with vegetal hints, and most people seem to like it.

The Best Negroni Recipe

So now you know exactly how to make the best negroni, you can grab your ingredients along with glasses, ice cubes and orange slices (or twists of lemon if you prefer) and wow your friends with this wonderful Italian cocktail.

Let me know if you try out this negroni cocktail with campari, gin and vermouth. With all the details for how to make the best negroni, it is easy to whip up this classic Italian cocktail.

Other Recipes to Try

• Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita
• Maple Apple Whiskey Sour
• Italian Limoncello Recipe
• Black Cherry Vanilla Vodka Sour
• Watermelon Gin Tonic with Cucumber Ribbons