Negronis

The Negroni is a classic Italian cocktail made with gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, typically in equal parts. It is usually stirred with ice and served in a rocks glass, garnished with an orange peel to express oils over the drink.

Origins trace to Florence in 1919, at Caffè Casoni, where Count Camillo Negroni asked a bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to strengthen his Americano by replacing the tonic water with gin. The drink gained its name from the count and has since become one of the most recognizable aperitifs in the world, closely associated with Italian cocktail culture.

The standard preparation involves combining gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in a glass with ice and stirring until well chilled, then garnishing with an expressed orange twist. While equal parts is common, some bars adjust the ratio for a stronger gin or more bitter profile.

Variations and related drinks have broadened the Negroni family. Negroni sbagliato substitutes Prosecco or sparkling wine for the gin, delivering a lighter, bubbly version. The White Negroni uses gin, Lillet Blanc (or dry vermouth), and a white bitter such as Suze. The Boulevardier replaces gin with bourbon, creating a bourbon-Campari-vermouth balance, while the Old Pal uses rye whiskey with Campari and dry vermouth for a drier profile. These adaptations maintain the signature bitter-sweet balance that characterizes the Negroni while exploring different base spirits and bitter liqueurs.