How Do You Make a Negroni?

Equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and a bitter liqueur, stirred over ice and garnished with orange — one of the most balanced and forgiving classic cocktails to make at home.

The Negroni is famous for its simplicity: equal parts of three ingredients, and almost no room for measuring error.

Classic recipe

• 30ml gin
• 30ml sweet (red) vermouth
• 30ml bitter liqueur (a Campari-style bitter liqueur is the traditional choice)
• Orange peel, for garnish

Method

1. Add all three ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir for about 20–30 seconds to chill and lightly dilute.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice (or serve up in a chilled glass, without ice, if you prefer).
4. Express a piece of orange peel over the drink to release its aromatic oils, then garnish.

Why equal parts works so well

The Negroni's genius is in its balance — the bitter liqueur's bitterness, the vermouth's sweetness and botanical depth, and the gin's juniper backbone all sit at equal strength, so no single ingredient dominates. This also makes it a genuinely forgiving recipe for beginners, since there's no complex ratio to get wrong.

Choosing your gin

A juniper-forward, classic-style gin tends to hold its own well against the bold bitter and vermouth flavours — a very delicate or subtle contemporary gin can get lost in this particular combination, so save your more delicate bottles for a simpler serve like a Martini or G&T.