How to make a Classic Negroni Cocktail. Made with just four ingredients this Italian cocktail has a beautiful ruby red colour and is so refreshing. It's the perfect way to kick off your Italian aperitivo!
If you're looking for an elegant and refreshing cocktail to get your taste buds going then look no further than the Negroni!
Just like an Aperol Spritz or Campari cocktail it's the perfect drink for an Italian aperitivo served alongside some nibbles like marinated olives, a slice of focaccia bread or fried sage leaves (if you've not tried fried sage you're missing out).
It's made with just four simple ingredients and better yet it's the easiest cocktail to remember because it's all equal parts. See what you need to make it below.
Ingredients - what you need
- Campari - A ruby red Italian bitter made with a fusion of herbs.
- Gin - Any good gin will do, I use a London dry gin.
- Vermouth Rosso - A semi-sweet Italian liqueur with a citrusy flavour.
- Orange - for garnish, either slices of orange or twisted orange peel, whatever you prefer!
How to make a Negroni Cocktail - step by step
Fill your serving glasses with ice then set aside.
Pour equal amounts of campari, gin and vermouth rosso in a cocktail shaker, the rule is 1 fl oz (30 ml) of each ingredient per cocktail (photo 1).
Give the cocktail a stir then pour over ice to fill your glasses, serve with a slice or twist of orange (photo 2).
Food to serve with your cocktail
For a true Italian aperitivo you'll need some nibbles to serve alongside your cocktail. In Italy, you'll often be served some salted chips (crisps UK), salted peanuts or focaccia, so simple yet hits the spot.
Below are some of my favourite appetizers and nibbles to serve with drinks or you can check out our full list of Italian Appetizer recipes and choose your favourite!
- Stracchino and Sausage Crostini
- Bruschetta al Pomodoro
- Fried Sausage Stuffed Olives – Delicious And Crispy
- Whipped Ricotta Dip with Roasted Tomatoes
- Sour Cream Pesto Dip with Prosciutto Dippers
Top tips and recipe FAQs
- Prepare it in advance - you can pre-mix this cocktail up to any quantity you like and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to serve. Make sure to NOT add any ice or it'll water the cocktail down as it melts. Only add the ice to serving glasses right before serving.
- Less bitter version - if you're looking for something a little less bitter then check out the Negroni Sbagliato which uses prosecco making it fruity, bubbly and just as delicious!
A Negroni is a bitter cocktail, it's designed to stimulate your taste buds before a meal. It's a mix of woody and herbal flavours with a slight sweetness of fruity orange.
The best vermouth to use for this cocktail is a semi-sweet red vermouth (not white). The Martini brand is a great choice but there are also many cheaper brands that will work just as well!
More Italian cocktails you might like
- Classic Campari Cocktail – Spritz
- Classic Peach Bellini Cocktail
- Aperol Spritz Cocktail
- Sparkling Limoncello Cocktail
If you’ve tried this Negroni Cocktail or any other recipe on the blog please let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM andPINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.
📖 Full Recipe
Negroni Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 fl oz Campari (30ml)
- 1 fl oz Gin (30ml)
- 1 fl oz Vermouth Rosso (30ml)
- Orange slices
- Ice
Instructions
- Fill your serving glasses with ice then set aside.
- Pour equal amounts of campari, gin and vermouth rosso in a cocktail shaker, stir to combine.
- Pour over ice to fill your glass, serve with a slice or twist of orange.
Notes
- Prepare it in advance - you can pre-mix this cocktail up to any quantity you like and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to serve. Make sure to NOT add any ice or it'll water the cocktail down as it melts. Only add the ice to serving glasses right before serving.
Nutrition
- I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
- When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use Cirio or Mutti brands for the best results and flavour.
- All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
- All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
- Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
- Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
- You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.
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