The Negroni is the world's most-ordered bitter cocktail and the equal-parts drink every home bar should be able to make in under a minute: gin, sweet vermouth, Campari, stirred over ice and garnished with a thick orange peel. That's it. Three ingredients, no measuring beyond the jigger, no shaking.
Our house version uses Naught Australian Dry Gin. The toasted wattle seed and native macadamia give the drink a rounder, softer mouthfeel without losing any of the Campari edge.
INGREDIENTS:
- 30ml Naught Australian Dry Gin
- 30ml Sweet Vermouth (Carpano Antica or Strucchi Red recommended)
- 30ml Campari
GARNISH:
- Orange Peel (a thick twist)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Add all three ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir gently for 15 seconds to chill and lightly dilute. Strain through a julep strainer into a rocks glass with one large ice cube.
To finish, garnish with a thick orange peel twist expressed over the surface, then dropped into the glass.
The Negroni: a Florentine accident
The Negroni was born in Florence around 1919. Count Camillo Negroni, fresh off travels through the American Wild West, walked into Caffè Casoni and asked the bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to strengthen his usual Americano by replacing the soda water with gin. Scarselli obliged, swapped the lemon garnish for orange, and history was poured. Within a few years it was being ordered by name across Italy; a century later, it's one of the most-ordered cocktails in the world. Our house version stays loyal to Scarselli's equal-parts ratio. Only the gin is ours.
Why the gin matters
A Negroni is one of the few cocktails where the gin you choose changes the drink noticeably. Equal parts means every ingredient pulls its weight; a bland or generic gin will get steamrolled by the Campari. Naught Australian Dry Gin brings juniper, citrus and a velvety mouthfeel from the wattle seed and macadamia. It stands up to the Campari without disappearing under it. For a softer, more aromatic variation, try the recipe with our Sangiovese Gin; the red fruit pairs beautifully with sweet vermouth.
You'll also love
- Naught Martini, the other great stirred classic
- Martinez, the boozy, bittersweet Martini-Negroni hybrid
- Sanjo Spritz, for when you want the spirit-forward feeling but lighter
Frequently asked questions
What is a Negroni?
A Negroni is a stirred Italian cocktail made with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, served over ice with an orange peel garnish. It's one of the most-ordered cocktails in the world and the gateway drink for most bitter-loving cocktail enthusiasts.
Who invented the Negroni?
The Negroni was invented in Florence around 1919 by bartender Fosco Scarselli at Caffè Casoni, on the request of regular customer Count Camillo Negroni, who asked for his Americano strengthened with gin instead of soda. The orange garnish replaced the original lemon at the same moment, and the drink took the Count's name.
What gin works best in a Negroni?
A contemporary gin with body and a touch of sweetness handles the Campari best. Naught Australian Dry Gin works beautifully. The wattle seed and macadamia give the cocktail a velvety mouthfeel without softening the bitter edge. A juniper-heavy London Dry also works but produces a sharper, drier drink.
What's a Negroni Sbagliato?
A "Sbagliato" (meaning "mistaken" in Italian) replaces the gin with sparkling wine, usually prosecco. It became viral on TikTok in 2022 when a YouTube clip of an actress saying "Negroni Sbagliato with prosecco in it" took off. It's a lighter, bubblier, lower-ABV version of the original.
How is a Negroni different from a Boulevardier?
A Boulevardier is a Negroni made with bourbon instead of gin. Same equal-parts structure (60ml bourbon, 30ml sweet vermouth, 30ml Campari is a common ratio), but the whisky base makes it richer and warmer. Some call it a "winter Negroni".
Should you stir or shake a Negroni?
Stir. Shaking aerates the drink and clouds the colour. A Negroni should be jewel-bright crimson. Stirring keeps the texture silky and the appearance clean. 15 seconds of gentle stirring is enough.
Can I make a Negroni without Campari?
You can substitute another bitter aperitif like Aperol (sweeter, lower ABV, producing a "Negroni-style" drink some call a "Cardinal"), Cynar (artichoke-based, more savoury), or Select Aperitivo (more traditional Italian). The drink won't taste the same, but each substitution makes a legitimate variation.
