Negroni

The Negroni is an elegant and classic stirred drink and is said to be the most popular classic cocktail in the world today. It’s also extremely easy to make, made with equal parts gin, Italian red bitter liqueur and sweet vermouth.

“It’s definitely an ‘adult’ or more grown-up cocktail, which is clear from its character. We tend to develop more of a bitter palette the older we get,” shares Michael Bergström, Drinks Expert at Bartenders’ Choice Awards. “The Negroni offers an amazing balance of strong botanicals, sweet spices, and vibrant bitter notes,” he continues.

“It’s very intense, very complex, high on the juniper scale with sublime citrus flavors coming through that work beautifully with the bitters,” shares Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.

Let’s ask Michael Bergström to tell the story, shall we? 

Legend has it that the Negroni was first conceived in 1919 when a Florentine Count sat down at his favorite café not far from the ancient Piazza della Repubblica in Rome, Italy. The noble Florentine held court as he usually did during aperitivo hour among his aristocratic acquaintances.  

On this particular day, he leaned over the bar top and asked his bartender friend to “strengthen” his Americano, a lush Spritz-style drink with Vermouth and Orange Italian Bitter Liqueur topped with Soda Water. The bartender reached for the Gin instead of the Soda Water, and the star we know as Negroni was born.

A seemingly small modification, but one that would influence an entire world of modern-day drinkers over a century later.

Dilution is important but don’t overdo it
When you’re stirring the mixture of Gin, Orange Bitter Italian Liqueur, Sweet Vermouth and Ice in your Mixing Glass, stir only until it’s chilled but keep your eye on the temperature. 

Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan – Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassadors’ explains: “Don’t worry too much about the dilution because we’re going to allow it to sit in a glass filled with ice, which means you want to make sure that it doesn’t get over diluted by stirring too much because it’s going to dilute a little bit in the glass. This way, by the time you get to the end of the drink, it’s not going to be too watery.”
 

Rub the oils around your glass
Rub the Orange Peel around the rim of the glass before dropping the peel into your drink. By rubbing the peel around the rim of the glass, you’ll get an extra burst of citrus flavor with every sip. 

Getting your ice big enough
You’ll see in the video that Rico starts with a large block of ice, which he then skillfully carves using a knife and an ice pick to create large chunks for his drink.

Using large ice pieces instead of standard-sized cubes is essential when making a Negroni, as it ensures proper dilution over time as you enjoy your drink. If you don’t have a big block of ice like Rico, you can purchase 2×2-inch silicone molds to create ice that is perfect for drinks like the Negroni.

“While the Negroni’s ingredient list is quite humble, there are countless options to choose from when it comes to Gin, Vermouth and Red Italian Bitters – all with their own unique characteristics. Our suggestion is to experiment. Try making Negronis with different Gins, Red Vermouth and Red Italian Bitters to find the combination you like best”, recommends Michael Bergström.  

The Boulevardier
In the words of Rico, “Let’s not mess around. It’s a Bourbon Negroni”. An expert balance of bitter, boozy, and sweet flavors. The Boulevardier is, indeed, a twist on the Negroni dating back to 1920s Paris. Bourbon, Orange Bitter Italian Liqueur and Sweet Red Vermouth. 

Just like an Old Fashioned or Negroni, it offers a rich and refined sipping experience ideal for autumn or winter. There’s the sweetness of Red Vermouth, the richness and smoothness of Bourbon and finally the bitterness from the Italian Orange Bitter Liqueur. Here’s how to make The Boulevardier. 

Absolut Grapefruit Negroni
Not a fan of Gin? Give Vodka a try instead. But not just any Vodka – use Absolut Grapefruit. “Grapefruit is a fantastic flavor; it complements Orange, one of the main fruit notes in the Negroni, beautifully,” says Rico.

The measurements remain the same as the classic Negroni but swap out the Gin for Absolut Grapefruit. For an extra twist, garnish with Pink Grapefruit Peel instead of Orange. Watch Rico make an Absolut Grapefruit Negroni.
 

Mandrin Negroni
Here’s another Vodka variation of a classic Negroni, this time using Absolut Mandrin (Mandarin Flavored Vodka). As you can surely imagine, the sweet and smooth flavors of Mandarin marry so perfectly with the  Orange Bitter Italian Liqueur. Love citrus? Then the Mandrin Negroni is for you. Discover our Mandrin Negroni recipe.

Serve The Negroni in a Rock Glass. “The Negroni is a drink served on the rocks and it’s a very elegant drink so find some bougie Rocks Glasses. It’ll make your drink look so much better. As we know, we eat and drink with our eyes. The prettier things are the nicer they taste,” says Rico.

As for the garnish, the classic garnish for a Negroni is a thin, curled strip of Orange Peel, commonly referred to as an Orange Twist.