We think every gin fan should know how to make a good Negroni. It is one of the most iconic classic gin cocktails in the world, after all.

And with just three ingredients, all delivered in that easily remembered 1:1:1 ratio, it couldn’t be quicker to learn the perfect Negroni recipe.

In this feature, we are taking you through the ideal Negroni ingredients, the method for how to make a Negroni and just about everything you could possibly want to know about this amazing cocktail, including how and where the Negroni was invented, what a Negroni tastes like and how alcoholic it is.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look…

- Get Negroni ingredients here!

Where and when was the Negroni invented?

There are many myths and legends around the origin of this fabulous cocktail, but the leading Negroni origin story is that the Negroni was invented by one Count Camillo Negroni at the Café Casoni in Florence in 1919, now known as Giacosa Café.

The story goes that Count Negroni asked the bartender at Café Casoni, Fosco Scarselli, to add gin to his usual order of vermouth and Campari, instead of soda water, which he usually used to top the drink.

Scarselli garnished this new creation with orange and the Negroni was born.

What is a Negroni made of?

The classic Negroni is made of three ingredients, all used in equal measure: gin, sweet vermouth and Campari.

Negroni ingredients:

Gin:

Negroni is traditionally made with London dry gin, which has a rich, juniper-led flavour profile. London dry gins can also have a medley of citrus, herb and spice tones depending on the gin you choose. Find out more about London dry gin here!

For the perfect Negroni, we recommend using a traditional London dry like Nelson’s London Dry Gin.

Sweet Vermouth:

Also known as red vermouth, sweet vermouth adds wonderfully bittersweet herb and spice flavours to the cocktail recipe and layers of complexity.

There are a range of sweet vermouth options out there, but for the perfect Negroni, we recommend using Punt E Mes.

The name Punt E Mes translates to “point and a half” and it refers to the flavour profile of the vermouth, which is said to be one “point” sweet and half a “point” bitter.

It’s the perfect Italian vermouth for this delightfully Italian cocktail.

Campari:

This Italian aperitivo liqueur is famed for its bright red colour and citrusy, herbaceous flavour profile. Discover everything you need to know about Campari here!

It’s the perfect complement to the vermouth and gin in this cocktail recipe.

Is a Negroni a strong cocktail?

The Negroni is indeed a strong cocktail, although it shouldn’t have any high-alcohol “burn” if made correctly.

The Negroni is strong because it is made with an alcoholic spirit and two alcoholic liqueurs. Find out their alcohol content here:

London dry gin has an ABV (alcohol by volume) measure of at 37.5%.
Sweet vermouth traditionally has an ABV measure of around 15 - 18%
Campari has an ABV measure of 25% in the UK (between 20.5% and 28% outside of the UK).

What does Negroni taste like?

A well-made Negroni should have an ultra-smooth palate with a delicious balance of sweet and bitter herb, citrus and spice tones.

In every sip, you can taste touches of juniper from the gin, herb and spice flavours from the vermouth and citrus flavours from the Campari.

Together, they give you a drinking experience that is rich and delectably complex with a wonderfully moreish finish.

What is so good about Negroni?

We think Negronis are great, not only because they taste amazing but because they are also incredibly easy to make at home and the recipe is extremely versatile.

To make a Negroni, you simply stir equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari with ice and pour them into a Rocks glass filled with ice or with one big ice cube in.

What’s more, you can combine the Negroni ingredients ahead of time, ready to be stirred and poured at your convenience.

The versatility of the Negroni can be seen with just a quick glance across a cocktail menu, as many today include a White Negroni and the Sbagliato (a Negroni with prosecco instead of gin - but we put the gin back in ours!) has become hugely popular in recent years.

But the adaptions go further than that (see below). We definitely recommend starting with the classic Negroni recipe though…

How to make the perfect Negroni recipe:

Ingredients:

25ml London dry gin
25ml Campari
25ml sweet vermouth
Orange zest, to garnish

Method:

Add the gin, Campari and sweet red vermouth to a stirring glass or shaker with ice. Stir well.
Place one big ice cube in a Rocks glass and gently strain the cocktail over the ice - if you don’t have one big ice cube, fill the glass with as big ice cubes as you can.
Squeeze the orange zest over the cocktail and rub it around the rim.
Garnish, serve and enjoy!

Craft Gin Club tip: A pint glass works as a great stirring glass!

When is the best time to drink a Negroni?

Well, Negroni week is the best time to drink a Negroni! In the UK, Negroni week runs from September 18th to September 24th. A Negroni is just as delicious at any other time of the year too, of course.

But if you are looking for a certain time of day to drink a Negroni, we would suggest mixing one up before your dinner.

That is because the Negroni is known as an aperitif (French) or aperitivo (Italian) cocktail. This type of cocktail, with a bitter flavour profile, is thought to be a great way to build up your appetite before a meal.

However, there are no hard and fast rules. You are perfectly welcome to enjoy a Negroni whenever one takes your fancy, that’s what we do!

Negroni variations:

Now you’ve mastered the basics of a classic Negroni, why not try one of our alternative Negroni recipes that put a twist on the traditional version…

Sloe Gin Negroni:

Try swapping London dry gin for sloe gin and you will not be disappointed!

Find the full recipe here…

Orange Frogroni:

This frozen Negroni recipe is perfect for the height of summer, especially as the addition of orange juice gives the cocktail a sweeter, fruitier palate. Yum!

Learn how to make this frozen Negroni twist here…