The Boulevardier
Average
Spirits palpable, Fruity & Bitter
2 Minutes
Rocks Glass
Ingredients
The Boulevardier is an elegant cocktail and an easy-to-make drink with three different types of alcohol – Bourbon, Italian Red Bitter Liqueur and Sweet Red Vermouth.
Like an Old Fashioned or Negroni, The Boulevardier offers a rich and refined sipping experience ideal for autumn or winter.
When making this drink, Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, calls the Italian Red Bitter Liqueur a Bitter Orange Italian Liqueur, referring to its flavor profile rather than its color.
Once an obscure drink from 1920s Paris, The Boulevardier is now enjoying a well-deserved second life. Let’s raise a glass to that!
How To Make THE BOULEVARDIER COCKTAIL
Bar tools you’ll need
Fine Strainer
Jigger
Mixing Glass
Julep Strainer
How to Mix
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Use a Jigger to measure and pour Sweet Vermouth into a Mixing Glass.
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Measure and pour Italian Red Bitter Liqueur into the Mixing Glass, followed by Bourbon.
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Add several large Ice Cubes into the Mixing Glass.
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Stir with a Bar Spoon for approx. 15-30 seconds or until ice cold.
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Add one large Ice Cube into a Rocks Glass.
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Place a Julep Strainer over the Mixing Glass and then strain the cocktail into the Rocks Glass.
Rico shows how to make The Boulevardier
What Is the Boulevardier Cocktail?
The Boulevardier is essentially a variation of a classic Negroni known for its rich and bitter profile. .
While both drinks are spirit-forward and made with Italian red bitter liqueur and sweet red vermouth, a Negroni is made with gin, whereas the Boulevarider is made with Bourbon.
What Does the Boulevardier Cocktail Taste Like?
The Boulevardier is essentially a twist on the Negroni, with an expert balance of bitter and sweet flavors. In the words of Rico himself, “Let’s not mess around. It’s a Bourbon Negroni – it’s gonna be fantastic.”
Be sure to let your drink dilute properly to let the flavors really come together. When diluted properly, you’ll get lots of flavors of bitter Orange Peel that blend perfectly with the richness and sweetness of the Bourbon.
The History of The Boulevardier Cocktail
The Boulevardier originates from the hustle and bustle of 1920s Paris but was almost forgotten for 80 years.
It first appeared in print in a 1927 Parisian cocktail book, attributed to an American-born writer who founded a monthly magazine in Paris. The cocktail is mentioned not in the main list of recipes, but in an essay.
Despite this early mention, the Boulevardier did not gain popularity and remained absent from major cocktail collections between 1927 and 2007.
It was rediscovered in the late 2000s during the craft cocktail movement, and quickly gained popularity in the 2010s.
Tips for Making the Perfect Boulevardier Cocktail
Mixing the perfect Boulevardier is all about balancing the ingredients for a smooth, sophisticated sip.
- Use a large ice cube for better dilution
For that perfect sip, you need a hefty ice cube. In the video, you’ll see Rico masterfully wield an Ice Pick to carve a glacier-sized piece for his Rocks Glass. Don’t try this at home! OK, you can but be very, very careful – Rico is a trained professional. The truth is any large piece of ice will do. If you have large ice molds at home, that’s even better. “If you’re wondering why we want to use these big Ice Cubes, it’s because they actually dilute a lot slower and that just gives you better control over dilution,” explains Rico. Dilution balances the flavors, softens the alcohol’s intensity, and enhances the drink’s overall smoothness. In brief, it creates a more enjoyable sipping experience. - Stir until ice cold…but don’t stir too much
Using a Bar Spoon, you want to stir your drink until it’s ice cold. As Rico says, The Boulevardier is like an Old Fashioned in that it’s a sipping drink. “Don’t stir it to perfection because it’s going to be sitting in ice for a while. Stir a little bit premature and that way you will get the full experience of the drink as it slowly dilutes in your glass,” explains Rico. - Choose your ingredients wisely
Since the Boulevardier is a three-ingredient cocktail where each element is equally crucial, don’t skimp on quality. Use your favorite Bourbon and a top-notch Sweet Vermouth. The interplay between these three spirits is vital; striking the right balance can mean the difference between a great drink and a mediocre one.
Variations of The Boulevardier Cocktail
The Mandrin Boulevard
For this variation, Rico substitutes the Bourbon for Mandarin-Flavored Vodka. And the result? Let’s ask Rico: “I’m not going to lie; you don’t get the flavors of the Bourbon but the Mandarin – it’s delicious.
Is this an exact replacement for a Boulevardier? “Hell no, that drink is banging. It’s great. But if you’ve got some Absolut Mandrin at home and you want something that’s sophisticated, a little bit bitter and you like those Negroni type drink, Absolut Mandrin is pretty perfect in this drink,” says Rico.
Why Mandarin-Flavored Vodka? “Orange is a flavor or a note that you get in some Bourbons and since we’re getting rid of a lot of the Bourbon flavor, (you can) add a little extra flavor with some Absolut Mandrin,” shares Rico.
Serving and Garnish Ideas for The Boulevardier
You’ll notice in our video that Rico opts not to garnish his drink. Most recipes, however, use Orange Peel or an Orange Twist.
We recommend serving The Boulevardier in a Rocks Glass. It’s the perfect glass for sipping and for accommodating that all-important large Ice Cube.
Want to learn more about Glassware? Check out our article about different glass types.
The Boulvevarider FAQ
A Negroni uses Gin while a Boulevardier uses Bourbon. The rest is the same.
You can…but it won’t be The Boulevardier. Check out Rico’s own Mandrin Boulevard, which uses Absolut Mandrin instead of Bourbon.
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