Aaah, the classic Negroni cocktail. It’s such a grown up drink, yet who can fault its simplicity and depth of flavour? Slightly bitter and oh so refreshing, the Negroni is a superb aperitivo at any time of year.
I simply love a Negroni and ensure I keep the ingredients handy in the fridge for whenever I feel the urge to indulge in this Italian classic.
Here’s the one, the only recipe for the Negroni. The only thing you need now is to choose your brand of spirits, but don’t even think about substituting Campari, as it’s what gives this its insanely happy vibe.
You can also enjoy them with a snack, such as cicchetti if you happen to be in Venice. Read more about how to enjoy these tasty morsels below the recipe.
Note: Post updated 23 June 2023.
Classic Negroni cocktail
Course: Cocktail hourCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy2
cocktails5
minutesYou will need
campari
gin
Rosso vermouth
Ice
Fresh orange, sliced for garnishing
Here’s what to do
- Add ice to two glasses.
- Measure the Campari, gin and Vermouth into a small jug and stir stir to combine.
- Pour the mixed Negroni evenly into each icy glass and garnish with a slice of orange.
- Cin cin.
Tips and tricks
- For a refreshing summer twist on the classic, just top up the glass with soda water (club soda) for a spritz style Negroni.
Why an aperitivo?
We love a pre-dinner aperitivo if you’re Italian or aperitif in English. You can even call it cocktail hour. Whatever your choice of words, the thought is that drinking something slightly bitter or dry will help stimulate appetite.
Dinner time in Italy and a note about cicchetti
In Italy, dinner usually isn’t served until 8pm – at the earliest! This means that having an alcoholic (or non alcoholic) drink early in the evening helps to curb appetite. They’re often served with light bites. If you’re in Venice, this will be cicchetti – small bites usually served on slices of bread. Toppings can range from fish through to blue cheese and pear. ‘
The best cicchetti bars are to be found away from the tourist trap places and you can enjoy them while leaning over a canal watching the watery life pass you by.
Whatever you choose, make sure you don’t let the seagulls steal them and enjoy the atmosphere.
