The Negroni, gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, equal parts, stirred, served over a single large cube, is one of the cleanest cocktail recipes ever devised. Three ingredients, no citrus, no sugar to dial in, no syrup to make. The structure is so well-balanced that you can swap any single ingredient and produce a cocktail worth drinking. Here is the family that has grown from those three slots.
The original
1. The Negroni. Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth. 30:30:30. Stirred over ice. Strained over a large cube in a rocks glass. Expressed orange peel.
Created in Florence in 1919 (probably) by Count Camillo Negroni, who asked for his Americano with gin instead of soda. The drink that defined the bittersweet category.
Swap the gin
2. The Boulevardier. Bourbon instead of gin. Becomes a whisky cocktail; reads as warmer, less herbal, more autumnal. Built in Paris in the 1920s. Our Boulevardier recipe.
3. The Old Pal. Rye whisky + dry vermouth instead of sweet. Drier, sharper, more aggressive. A cousin to the Boulevardier; less famous but worth knowing.
4. The Mezcal Negroni. Mezcal instead of gin. Adds smoke. One of the best modern variations, see our builder template mezcal_negroni.
5. The Rum Negroni. Aged rum instead of gin. Adds molasses-and-vanilla depth. Less common but rewards experimentation.
Swap the Campari
6. The Cardinal. Replaces Campari with a deeper amaro (Cynar, Ramazzotti). Bitterness shifts from grapefruit-pith Campari to artichoke-or-rhubarb Cynar.
7. The White Negroni. Gin + Suze (gentian liqueur) + Lillet Blanc. Pale yellow instead of red, lighter on the palate, more floral.
8. The Cynar Negroni. Gin + Cynar + sweet vermouth. Vegetal-bitter character. The Negroni for hardcore bitter drinkers.
Swap the vermouth
9. The Negroni with Bianco. Gin + Campari + bianco (white sweet) vermouth instead of rosso. Slightly drier, more floral, less rich.
10. The Old Pal (revisited). Already covered above. Also fits this category since dry vermouth replaces sweet.
Add sparkling
11. The Negroni Sbagliato. Replace the gin with prosecco. Lower in alcohol, higher in joy. Made famous by Stanley Tucci's social-media moment but has been around since the 1970s. Our Negroni Sbagliato recipe.
12. The Americano. Drop the gin entirely; keep Campari, sweet vermouth, top with soda. The lower-alcohol predecessor to the Negroni. Built in 1860s Milan.
The Malaysian-local additions
Our house contributions to the family:
Kopi Negroni. Standard Negroni + a barspoon of cold-brewed kopi-O. The local coffee adds a roasted depth that wraps around the Campari. See our builder template kopi_negroni.
Earl Grey Negroni. Replace half the gin with Earl Grey-infused gin. The bergamot oil amplifies the citrus already present. Detailed in Earl Grey in cocktails.
Pandan Negroni. Half the sweet vermouth replaced with pandan-infused vermouth. Adds a Southeast Asian green-grassy note that we love.
How to order across the family
If you like the standard Negroni, the easiest exploration order:
- Try a Boulevardier (most accessible variation, just bourbon swap).
- Try a Negroni Sbagliato (lighter, sparkly).
- Try a Mezcal Negroni (smoke variation).
- Try a White Negroni (lightest, most floral).
- Try a Cynar Negroni (deepest bitter variation).
Five drinks, all related, none identical. The Negroni family is one of the easiest ways to develop a more sophisticated bitter palate.
What we pour
The standard Negroni, the Boulevardier, the Negroni Sbagliato, the Mezcal Negroni, and (off-menu) the Kopi Negroni are always available at both outlets. Anything else from the family list above, we can build on request, ask the bartender.
Related reading
- Our Negroni recipe
- Our Boulevardier recipe
- Our Negroni Sbagliato recipe
- Amaro explained
- Vermouth explained
- Bitters explained
Frequently asked questions
What is a Negroni?
Gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, equal parts at 30:30:30, stirred over ice and strained over a large cube with expressed orange peel. Created in Florence in 1919 (probably) when Count Camillo Negroni asked for his Americano with gin instead of soda. The drink that defined the bittersweet category.
How is a Boulevardier different from a Negroni?
The Boulevardier swaps gin for bourbon. The drink becomes warmer, less herbal, more autumnal, reading as a whisky cocktail. Built in Paris in the 1920s. The Old Pal is a closely related cousin using rye whisky plus dry vermouth instead of sweet, drier and sharper.
Which Negroni variation should I try next?
Five-step exploration. Boulevardier (just bourbon swap). Negroni Sbagliato (gin replaced by prosecco). Mezcal Negroni (adds smoke). White Negroni with Suze and Lillet Blanc (lightest). Cynar Negroni (deepest bitter). Five drinks, all related, none identical.
Can I substitute a non-bitter liqueur for Campari?
Replace Campari with Cynar for a vegetal Cardinal-style Negroni, or with Suze for a White Negroni paired with Lillet Blanc. Both swap the grapefruit-pith Campari bitterness for a different bitter profile. For a non-alcoholic version, see our NA Negroni piece for the tamarind Malaysian-local build.
Where can I drink Negroni variations in PJ?
Standard, Boulevardier, Sbagliato, Mezcal Negroni, and the off-menu Kopi Negroni are always available at both outlets. Dissolved Solids at 43-1 Jalan SS20/11 Damansara Kim; WhatsApp +60 11-4008 7607. Soluble Solids at 50-1 Jalan SS2/24; WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651.