Boulevardier cocktail in a rocks glass or coupe

Boulevardier Recipe

Bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth. A whiskey Negroni.

Bourbon or rye
Base Spirit
~24%
Approx ABV
Easy
Difficulty
3 min
Prep Time
🥂 Rocks glass or coupe 🧊 One large cube Bittersweet, rich, boozy

The Boulevardier is a stirred cocktail of bourbon or rye, Campari and sweet vermouth. It is often described as a Negroni made with whiskey in place of gin, and it is richer, rounder and better suited to cold weather.

Ingredients

Makes
  • 45 ml Bourbon or rye whiskey
  • 30 ml Campari
  • 30 ml Sweet vermouth
  • 1 strip Orange peel For the garnish

Garnish: Orange peel

How to Make a Boulevardier

  1. Add the whiskey, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass.
  2. Fill with ice and stir for 25 to 30 seconds.
  3. Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube, or into a chilled coupe.
  4. Express an orange peel over the drink and drop it in.

Tips for a Better Boulevardier

  • The ratio of 1.5 to 1 to 1 keeps the whiskey in front. Use equal parts for the 1927 original.
  • A bourbon of 45% ABV or more stands up better to Campari.
  • Keep opened vermouth in the fridge and use it within about a month.

About the Boulevardier

The drink was created in Paris in the 1920s for Erskine Gwynne, a wealthy American writer who published a monthly magazine called The Boulevardier. A boulevardier is a man about town. Harry MacElhone of Harry's New York Bar recorded the recipe in his 1927 book Barflies and Cocktails and credited it to Gwynne.

The original was equal parts bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth. It was then almost forgotten for eighty years while the Negroni became famous.

The cocktail writer Ted Haigh brought it back in the 2000s, and bartenders in New York and London adopted it, usually raising the whiskey so that it leads. It is now an IBA official cocktail and a regular on winter menus in the United States, Europe and Australia.

Boulevardier Variations

  • Negroni: gin in place of whiskey.
  • Old Pal: rye whiskey, Campari and dry vermouth.
  • Left Hand: add 2 dashes of chocolate bitters.
  • Negroni Sbagliato: prosecco in place of the spirit.
  • Manhattan: leave out the Campari and add 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a Boulevardier?

A Boulevardier is made with 45ml (1.5 oz) bourbon or rye whiskey, 30ml (1 oz) Campari and 30ml (1 oz) sweet vermouth. It is served in a rocks glass or coupe.

How strong is a Boulevardier?

Made to this recipe, a Boulevardier is about 24% ABV and contains roughly 25 g of pure alcohol. That is about 1.8 US standard drinks, 2.5 Australian standard drinks or 3.2 UK units. It has around 230 calories per serving.

What is the difference between a Boulevardier and a Negroni?

A Negroni uses gin. A Boulevardier uses bourbon or rye, which makes it richer, sweeter and warmer, with vanilla and oak in place of juniper.

Is bourbon or rye better in a Boulevardier?

Bourbon makes a rounder, sweeter drink. Rye makes it drier and spicier and stands up more firmly to Campari. Both are correct.

How do you pronounce Boulevardier?

Boo-luh-var-DYAY. It is French for a man about town.

What is the Boulevardier ratio?

The modern ratio is 1.5 parts whiskey to 1 part Campari and 1 part sweet vermouth: 45ml, 30ml and 30ml. The 1927 original used equal parts.
Drink responsibly. The legal drinking age in India varies by state, from 18 to 25. Alcohol content shown is an estimate and changes with ice, dilution and the strength of the bottle you use. We do not sell alcohol.

About the Author

Shivam Sharma
Shivam Sharma
I am the founder and editor of The Spirit Atlas. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, I built this platform to be the most helpful and honest spirits guide for Indian readers — covering everything from Scotch and Indian single malts to rum, gin and tequila, along with prices across every major Indian state. My goal is simple: to make the world of spirits a little more approachable for everyone.
Last updated: October 2026

Quick Facts

Type Classic
Base spirit Bourbon or rye
Glass Rocks glass or coupe
Ice One large cube
Garnish Orange peel
Approx ABV ~24%
Calories ~230 kcal
Difficulty Easy
Prep time 3 min

More Cocktails