History
The Negroni turned 100 years old in 2019. It is believed that the cocktail came to exist after Count Camillo Negroni asked a bartender to strengthen his favourite cocktail, the Americano, which is made by using vermouth, Campari and club soda. The bartender replaced the club soda with gin and the Negroni was born. He also added an orange peel instead of the usual lemon peel used in an Americano.
Recipe
It’s remarkably simple to make a negroni. It’s equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth with an orange peel as a garnish. Here is how you prepare a classic Negroni:
- Add 30ml gin, 30ml Campari and 30ml sweet vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube
- Garnish with an orange peel.
Your gin choice matters
First and foremost, you’ll want to use a good quality gin. Additionally, the flavour profile, as well as the proof and body of your gin will affect the flavour of your Negroni. The key is to find a gin-vermouth pairing that will balance the bitter flavour of Campari. A common recommendation from bartenders is to use a Juniper-forward London Dry Gin.
Different variations
- White Negroni
This variation uses bianco vermouth, and Suze liqueur instead of Campari.
- Negroni Sbagliato
A Negroni Sbagliato has gained popularity online in the past few months and have left people wondering what this drink actually is. Sbagliato translates to “mistake” and uses sparkling wine instead of gin. A bar in Milan claims that one of its bartenders accidentally invented this cocktail by mistakenly putting sparkling wine in the Negroni instead of the usual gin.
- Boulevardier
This drink is believed to be created in the 1920s by Erskine Gwynne, the publisher of a magazine for expats living in Paris at the time called “Boulevardier”. It is a simple variation of a classic Negroni, made using bourbon or rye instead of gin.
- Americano
As mentioned above, the Americano is what originated the Negroni. If you want a milder version of the classic Negroni, make sure to try an Americano. This drink is equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth and chilled soda water to top.
