Negroni

How is Negroni made?

Making a Negroni couldn't be simpler – just combine equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari in a rocks glass filled with ice, then stir gently to chill and dilute. The classic garnish is an orange peel, which you'll want to express over the drink to release those aromatic oils before dropping it in. Some bartenders prefer to stir the ingredients in a mixing glass first and then strain over fresh ice, but either method delivers that perfect bitter-sweet balance that makes this Italian classic so irresistible.

How do you drink Negroni?

The Negroni is traditionally served on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass, garnished with an orange peel that releases its citrus oils when expressed over the drink. This classic Italian aperitivo is meant to be sipped slowly before dinner, allowing the bitter Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin to open up as the ice melts slightly. While some bartenders serve it up in a coupe glass for a more elegant presentation, the rocks serve is the gold standard – the dilution from melting ice helps marry the three strong ingredients into perfect harmony.

How do I choose a good Negroni?

Your perfect Negroni depends on your gin preference and how you like your bitter flavors balanced. If you love botanical-forward gins like Hendrick's or The Botanist, pair them with Carpano Antica Formula vermouth for a rich, vanilla-tinged sweetness that plays beautifully against Campari's aggressive bitterness. For a cleaner, more straightforward approach, London Dry gins like Tanqueray work wonderfully with Dolin Rouge and create a crisp, herbaceous drink that lets each ingredient shine without fighting for attention.

Nutritional Information

Typical Calorie Range per Ounce: 35-45 calories

Typical Carbohydrate Range per Ounce: 2-4 grams

Typical Sugar Range per Ounce: 2-3 grams

Typically Gluten Free: Yes

The classic Negroni's equal parts formula of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth creates a cocktail that's relatively moderate in calories compared to cream-based or sugar-heavy drinks. Most of the carbohydrates come from the sweet vermouth and the natural botanicals in Campari. The bitter liqueur contributes some sugar content, though significantly less than you'd find in fruit-forward cocktails.

While gin is naturally gluten-free (distillation removes gluten proteins), and both Campari and most vermouths are also gluten-free, always check the specific brands you're using. Some flavored gins or artisanal vermouths might contain additives that could affect gluten content. When in doubt, verify detailed product information with manufacturers to confirm gluten-free status, especially if you have celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity.

Scrolled this far? Your reward? Negroni Trivia!

1. The Negroni was accidentally invented when Count Camillo Negroni asked his bartender at Caffè Casoni in Florence to strengthen his favorite Americano cocktail in 1919. The bartender swapped the soda water for gin, creating what we now know as the perfect bitter-sweet balance. The orange garnish? That was the bartender's way of distinguishing it from the regular Americano served with lemon.
2. Anthony Bourdain called the Negroni "the perfect drink" and claimed it was the only cocktail he'd want if stranded on a desert island. He said it perfectly captured the Italian philosophy of taking simple, quality ingredients and creating something greater than the sum of its parts. His endorsement helped spark the modern Negroni renaissance among food and drink professionals worldwide.
3. There's an entire week dedicated to the Negroni every June, started by Imbibe Magazine in 2013. During Negroni Week, thousands of bars worldwide donate a portion of their Negroni sales to charity. The event has raised over $4 million for various causes, making it one of the most successful charity initiatives in the cocktail industry.
4. The classic 1:1:1 ratio that defines a Negroni breaks nearly every traditional cocktail-making rule. Most cocktails follow a base-modifier-accent structure, but the Negroni treats all three ingredients as equals. This democratic approach to mixing was considered radical when it first appeared, and it's why the drink tastes so distinctly different from other gin cocktails.
5. Campari keeps its recipe so secret that only one person at the company knows the complete formula at any given time. The bitter liqueur that gives the Negroni its distinctive red color and complex flavor contains over 60 different herbs and spices. The recipe has been passed down through generations of the Campari family since 1860, making every Negroni a sip of closely guarded Italian history.