Negroni cocktail recipe: the perfect drink

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The simplicity of the Negroni cocktail is disarming: 1/3 of gin, 1/3 of bitter, and 1/3 of sweet vermouth.

In a mix of a few simple ingredients, you can find a magical beverage where the astringent flavor of the bitter blends perfectly with the pungent aroma of the gin.

The sweet vermouth is the classic cherry on top and adds a little bit of sweetness.

Not surprisingly, the Negroni is an Americano with a lot of gin instead of soda. It is also bitter, like the Americano, which makes it great as an aperitif or with spicy foods, fish tacos, or fried chicken.

The Negroni is a stylish, neat cocktail, but it is one of the most straightforward drinks to prepare: you can build it in the glass, adding some ice and an orange slice.

That’s all there is to it: it’s the ideal aperitivo.

But why is it still a top-notch cocktail sipped all over the world?

The answer is simple: the perfect balance that blends and interweaves together sweetens the bitterness and creates the mysterious flavor of gin.

Negroni’s cocktail history

It is named after count Camillo Negroni, who, at Casoni coffee houses in Florence, used to drink as an aperitif an Americano “reinforced” with a good dose of gin. So, to make the count’s drink stand out, the bartender, Fosco Scarselli, put a slice of orange in place of the lemon peel.

Ingredients of the Negroni cocktail

• 1/3 (3 cl) gin
• 1/3 (3 cl) of bitter
• 1/3 (3 cl) of sweet vermouth

When to drink it
Pre-dinner, all-day cocktail, but be careful: the Negroni is one of the best cocktails for a fancy aperitif, but its alcohol content is very high.

How to prepare the perfect Negroni

It’s made right in the glass. Put some ice in a tumbler, cool the glass, drain the water, pour all the ingredients, and stir gently.

Garnish with an orange slice.

To play down the impact of the bitterness, or if you prefer a lighter cocktail, or to make a summer tonic, you can add some soda water.

Great Gin Cocktail you should try

Gin Tonic, Paradise, Tom Collins, Tuxedo, Dry Martini.

Negroni food pairings

Recommended dishes: chicken tikka masala, Chicken Cacciatore, Vitello Tonnato, truffle risotto, pasta alla carbonara, paella mixta.