Is the Negroni the World’s Most Versatile Cocktail? These Recipes Point to ‘Yes’
It’s widely believed that the Negroni, an equal-parts combination of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, was created at Cafè Casoni in Florence. Sometime between the end of World War I and October of 1920, Count Camillo Negroni, a Florentine aristocrat, allegedly asked the bartender to make a boozier Americano with the addition of gin.
For whatever reason, the bitter cocktail vanished from the historical record until 1947, when it began popping up in restaurants and bars in post-war Italy. Within the next decade, the drink had assumed a certain cachet, with a 1956 Campari advertisement dubbing it the “World Connoisseur’s Cocktail.”
More than half a century later, the simple cocktail still holds a level of prestige among modern day drinkers. And Negroni-loving bartenders frequently use its simple three-ingredient recipe as a starting point for a wide array of riffs, from mezcal- and port-infused versions and the whiskey-based Boulevardier to white variations and the recently viral sparkling wine-based Negroni Sbagliato. Here are 13 of our favorites.
The Classic Negroni
Want to drink like an Italian? Stir up this traditional formulation in an Old Fashioned glass and have yourself a sweet little aperitivo hour.
The Negroni Sblagiato
This formerly under-the-radar riff blew up in popularity when in HBO’s House of Dragon star Olivia Cooke asked Emma D’Arcy about her drink of choice in a now-viral TikTok post. “A Negroni,” D’Arcy replied, cooing in her velvety voice. “Sbagliato, with Prosecco in it.”
Google searches for the term “Negroni Sbagliato” skyrocketed, and so did consumption of this lower-alcohol take on the traditional drink.
The Boulevardier
This pre-Prohibition drink actually predates the Negroni, but it’s essentially the same drink, subbing out whiskey in place of gin. This seemingly minor change creates a vastly different flavor profile that has made it a fan-favorite among cocktail aficionados around the world.
The Milano-Torino
The Milano-Torino is another lesser-known predecessor to Count Negroni’s eponymous drink. The first known cocktail to use Campari, the two-ingredient drink, also referred to as Mi-To, this lower abv mix combines the bitter red liqueur with sweet Vermouth from Turin.
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The White Negroni
Invented by British bartender Wayne Collins at a spirits exhibition in Bordeaux, France, the White Negroni swaps bitter gentian liqueur Suze for Campari and the sweet white fortified wine Lillet for the vermouth. It did not become popular in the United States until Suze was first imported here in 2012, but has since blown up and is featured on cocktail menus from coast-to-coast.
The Wildflower Negroni
This riff on the classic White Negroni was developed to honor the Scandinavian summer solstice celebrations that feature flower wreaths to symbolize rebirth and the abundance of the earth after the long Nordic winter. The visually stunning drink makes the most of flowers and herbs, as it gilds the botanicals found in gin with a quick tea-based infusion.
Dante’s Negroni Azzuro
Part of the “Negroni Sessions” menu at Dante, a 104-year-old restaurant in Greenwich Village, this vibrant blue drink mixes two different Italian cocktail classics: the classic Negroni and the Angelo Azzurro, or “Blue Angel.” The latter, essentially a blue Cosmo, developed a following in Italy’s late-night bar and club scene in the 1990s. This one is served up in a Nick and Nora glass.
The Red Light Negroni
This easy variation substitutes robust Bols Genever for sprightly gin in a sassy homage to the red-light district in Amsterdam, which is located near to the producer’s headquarters. Though it’s supposed to be served in a lightbulb-shaped vessel, feel free to sip it straight from a rocks glass.
The Wonderland Negroni
Instead of the standard Campari, the bitter component of this interpretation is divided between two other Italian ingredients: bright-orange Aperol—infused with crushed peppermint—and Fernet, a minty amaro style. The juicy Aperol subdues the sharpness of the Fernet, while the peppermint infusion amplifies Branca Menta’s natural menthol and baking spice notes.
The Oaxacan Negroni
This now common Negroni adaptation gets its robust, slightly smoky flavor profile from substituting mezcal for the gin. This particular recipe also substitutes the herbaceous Nardini Amaro for Campari.
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Lupe Lamora
Exchange the gin for mezcal. Divide the vermouth between floral- and quinquina-scented Lillet Blanc and honeyed, viscous and herbaceous Italian bianco vermouth. Throw in a grapefruit twist. And you’ve got yourself an even more flavorful mezcal-white-Negroni hybrid.
The Old Pal
Essentially a rye Negroni, this classic cocktail boasts a drastically different profile from its gin-based brethren. The spicy, peppery notes of rye whiskey create a drier drink with more bite, which is further intensified by exchanging the sweet vermouth for dry.
The Cousin Eddie
Originally intended for a holiday menu at an Irish restaurant in New York’s Hudson Valley, this take on a Negroni gets its name from Randy Quaid’s cringeworthy character in the 1989 film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Enriched with spicy mezcal, tawny Port and coffee-infused Campari, it’s the perfect sipper for short winter evenings.
More Cocktail Coverage
- 15 hot cocktails to help you survive the winter.
- 13 Christmas cocktails for boosting holiday spirits.
- Go back to the crisp (longer) days of autumn with an apple cider spritz.
- Or find holiday inspiration from side dishes with these Thanksgiving-themed drinks.
- And, if you want to caffeinate yourself through winter, try this NA Espresso Martini.
In the shop
Hyde Unbreakable Old Fashioned Glass
In Stock | $36
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