Negroni cocktail in a rocks glass

Negroni Recipe

Equal parts gin, bitter red aperitivo and sweet vermouth.

Gin
Base Spirit
~24%
Approx ABV
Easy
Difficulty
2 min
Prep Time
🥂 Rocks glass 🧊 One large cube Bitter, bold, herbal

The Negroni is built in equal parts and stirred over ice. It is bitter and bold, and it rewards a gin with strong juniper.

Ingredients

Makes
  • 30 ml Gin
  • 30 ml Campari or similar bitter red aperitivo
  • 30 ml Sweet vermouth
  • 1 strip Orange peel For the garnish

Garnish: Orange peel

How to Make a Negroni

  1. Add all ingredients to a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
  2. Stir for 20 seconds.
  3. Express an orange peel over the glass and drop it in.

Tips for a Better Negroni

  • If it tastes too bitter, drop the bitter liqueur to 25ml and raise the gin to 35ml.
  • One large cube keeps the drink from over-diluting.

About the Negroni

The Negroni was born in Florence, Italy, in 1919. Count Camillo Negroni asked the bartender Fosco Scarselli at Caffè Casoni to strengthen his usual Americano by replacing the soda water with gin. Scarselli swapped the lemon garnish for a slice of orange to mark the difference, and other customers began asking for one of Count Negroni's drinks.

The recipe has not changed since: equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred over ice. Printed recipes under the name appear from the late 1940s, and it is one of the IBA's official cocktails.

In 2022 the Negroni overtook the Old Fashioned as the best-selling classic at the world's leading bars in the annual Drinks International survey. It has also produced a large family of spin-offs, from the Boulevardier to the Negroni Sbagliato.

Negroni Variations

  • Boulevardier: bourbon or rye in place of gin.
  • Negroni Sbagliato: prosecco in place of gin, for a lighter, sparkling drink.
  • White Negroni: gin, Suze and Lillet Blanc.
  • Americano: no gin, topped with soda water.
  • Mezcal Negroni: mezcal in place of gin for a smoky version.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a Negroni?

A Negroni is made with 30ml (1 oz) gin, 30ml (1 oz) Campari or similar bitter red aperitivo and 30ml (1 oz) sweet vermouth. It is served in a rocks glass.

How strong is a Negroni?

Made to this recipe, a Negroni is about 24% ABV and contains roughly 20 g of pure alcohol. That is about 1.4 US standard drinks, 2.0 Australian standard drinks or 2.5 UK units. It has around 195 calories per serving.

What is the Negroni ratio?

Equal parts. Use 30ml gin, 30ml Campari and 30ml sweet vermouth, which is 1 oz of each. Stir with ice and strain over a large ice cube.

How do you make a Negroni less bitter?

Raise the gin to 45ml and keep the other two at 30ml, or swap half the Campari for Aperol. A longer stir also softens it.

What is the best gin for a Negroni?

A firm, juniper-forward London dry gin of 43% ABV or more, such as Tanqueray, so that it is not lost behind the Campari.

What can you use instead of Campari?

Other red bitter aperitivi work, including Select, Luxardo Bitter and Cappelletti. Aperol makes a sweeter, lighter drink.
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 Gin
Glass Rocks glass
Ice One large cube
Garnish Orange peel
Approx ABV ~24%
Calories ~195 kcal
Difficulty Easy
Prep time 2 min

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