Classic cocktail · Guided recipe
Negroni
Start makingEqual parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred over ice with an orange twist. Bitter, ruby-red and perfectly balanced — the gateway to every amaro that follows.
In the glassGin · Campari · Sweet vermouth
See exact amounts
What goes in
Ingredients
Set up before you pour
Use a rocks glass.
The low, sturdy bowl suits concentrated drinks and gives one large cube enough width.
- Standard size
- 300 ml10¼ oz
- Ice & serve
- Add one large, solid ice block.
- If you don’t own one
- Use a small water tumbler with a heavy base.
- jigger or measuring spoon
- Gin30 ml
- Campari30 ml
- Sweet vermouth30 ml
From bottle to glass
Method
- 01
Ice the glass Fill the glass with ice
- 02
Measure and pour Pour 30 ml gin
Gin
- 03
Measure and pour Add 30 ml campari
Campari
- 04
Measure and pour Add 30 ml sweet vermouth
Sweet vermouth
- 05
Stir around the ice Stir gently to combine
- 06
Finish the drink Finish it — add an orange twist
Know your drink
About the Negroni
A count’s stiffer Americano
Florence, 1919: Count Camillo Negroni asked bartender Fosco Scarselli to strengthen his usual Americano by replacing the soda water with gin. The bar obliged, an orange slice replaced the Americano’s lemon to mark the difference, and the drink took the count’s name.
A century later the Negroni is the craft bar’s handshake — equal parts, no juice, no shaking, nowhere to hide. It’s also the rare cocktail that improves as the ice melts a little.
Common questions
Negroni FAQ
Why is my Negroni too bitter?
It’s supposed to be pleasantly bitter — that’s the Campari — but balance comes from the vermouth: use a fresh bottle (vermouth is wine; refrigerate after opening and use within a month or two) and a gin with backbone. If it still reads harsh, nudge the vermouth up slightly.
What are the best Negroni variations?
Swap the gin for bourbon and it’s a Boulevardier; for prosecco, a Negroni Sbagliato; for nothing at all (with soda), an Americano. Mezcal makes a smoky Mezcal Negroni. The equal-parts frame is one of the most riffable in all of cocktails.
Should a Negroni be stirred or shaken?
Stirred (or simply built) over ice — every ingredient is clear and spirit-based, so shaking only clouds it and chips the ice. Twenty seconds of gentle stirring gets it cold and silky.
What ingredients are in a Negroni?
A classic Negroni calls for 30 ml (1 oz) Gin, 30 ml (1 oz) Campari, 30 ml (1 oz) Sweet vermouth. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.
How strong is a Negroni?
A standard Negroni is roughly 27% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it spirit-forward — closer to a Martini than to a beer, so sip it slowly.
What glass do you serve a Negroni in?
Serve a Negroni in a rocks glass (old fashioned glass), over fresh ice cubes.
How many calories are in a Negroni?
One Negroni has approximately 180 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.
Sharpen the technique
Skills used in this recipe
How to stir a cocktail for a silky finish
Control chilling and dilution without adding the bubbles and texture of a shake.
Read the guide
Cocktail ice: cubes, crushed ice and dilution
Understand why ice is an ingredient—and choose the right shape for every drink.
Read the guideWhere to go next
If you like the Negroni, try these.
Kingston Negroni
A Negroni built on funky Jamaican rum instead of gin — same bitter-sweet balance, with tropical, molasses depth.
View recipe
Mezcal Negroni
A smoky Negroni: mezcal in place of gin, with Campari and sweet vermouth. Bitter, sweet and wreathed in campfire smoke.
View recipe
Negroni Sbagliato
The “mistaken” Negroni: Campari and sweet vermouth topped with prosecco instead of gin. Lighter, fizzier, just as ruby-red.
View recipe