7 Negroni recipes to explore the pleasantly bitter cocktail

Recipes for the classic Negroni, along with interesting variations to explore and enjoy.

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A classic Negroni. (Rey Lopez for The Washington Post)
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The classic Negroni stars Campari — the deeply bittersweet, orangy and herbal aperitivo — mixed with equal parts sweet vermouth and dry gin, and was purportedly invented by Count Camillo Negroni sometime around 1920. “Supposedly no one likes a Negroni the first time they taste one, and some drinkers never come around on this bright red flag of a drink,” Spirits columnist M. Carrie Allan wrote for The Post. “It’s boozy, it’s strange, it’s a high-wire balancing act, and once your palate adjusts to the bitterness, you may come to crave it — and regard it as the gateway to drinks incorporating bitter flavors.”

The Italian cocktail has garnered its fair share of fans in the alleged century since its invention. In 2013, Imbibe Magazine launched Negroni Week to celebrate the beverage while also raising money for charitable causes around the world when customers order the cocktail at participating venues during one week every September, with 2024’s event taking place Sept. 16 to 22.

Should you want to enjoy the cocktail at home, here are Negroni recipes from our database for the classic and variations — enough for each day of the week.

Negroni

Above. The classic Negroni is a perfect three-equal-parts balance of bittersweet and herbal. Get the recipe.

White Negroni

This French take on the cocktail replaces the Campari and vermouth with gentian liqueur and Lillet Blanc, respectively. The original recipe was served up, but the boozy drink also lends itself to being served with a large ice cube, depending on the drinker’s preference. Get the recipe.

Negroni Sbagliato

In 2022, “House of the Dragon” star Emma D’Arcy launched the “Negroni … sbagliato … with prosecco in it” to social media fame. This “wrong” take on the cocktail — the translation of “sbagliato” — calls for prosecco or Asti spumante instead of gin. Get the recipe.

Negroni Bianco

This variation on the white Negroni — making it a twist on a twist — adjusts the classic proportions to accommodate Luxardo Bitter Bianco, a clear bittersweet liqueur that’s milder and more citrusy than many gentian-based liqueurs. Get the recipe.

Alpine Negroni

Another variation on the white Negroni, this cocktail is complex and intensely herbal, thanks to the inclusion of génépy, a liqueur flavored with alpine botanicals. Get the recipe.

Kingston Negroni

This variation uses Jamaica rum instead of gin, and the powerful vanilla-forward Carpano Antica as the vermouth to stand up to it. Get the recipe.

Chocolate Negroni

A touch of Tempus Fugit crème de cacao chocolate liqueur alongside a more bitter, orange-accented vermouth makes this Negroni variation the ideal after-dinner cocktail. Get the recipe.