What is a Negroni?

We identified all the important questions when it comes to the Negroni. They are:

• What is a Negroni?
• What’s a Negroni made of?
• Is Negroni a strong cocktail?
• What does a Negroni taste of?
• How do you make a Negroni?
• Are Negronis vegan?
• Are there allergens in a Negroni?
• Who invented the Negroni?
• Do you drink a Negroni straight?
• What do you serve a Negroni with?
• Where does the name Negroni come from?
• Are Negronis gluten-free?
• What glass do you serve a Negroni in?

And now, onto the answers...

What is a Negroni?

A Negroni is a type of cocktail, specifically one that is considered an apéritif. It is Italian in origin, and is made by combining equal parts gin, vermouth rosso and Campari, stirring with ice and straining into a rocks or lowball glass. A Negroni is commonly served with a slice of orange, blood orange or orange peel.

What is a Negroni made of?

A Negroni is made from 3 main ingredients - gin, vermouth rosso (red vermouth) and the alcoholic liqueur Campari. These ingredients should be in equal parts, a ratio of 1:1:1.

Ice and a slice of orange or orange peel might also be used in a Negroni.

Is Negroni a strong cocktail?

A Negroni is one of the stronger cocktails, as all of its ingredients are alcoholic. It contains 3 measures of alcohol and has an alcohol content of around 24% (Alcohol By Volume).

What does Negroni taste of?

The Negroni has a fairly bitter, herby flavour that, combined with the strength of the alcohol, can taste almost medicinal. Gin gives the drink sharpness and freshness, the Campari is acrid and biting, whilst vermouth adds some sweetness. Some people consider Negroni to be an acquired taste.

How do you make a Negroni?

You make a Negroni by combining 1 part of gin with 1 part of vermouth rosso and 1 part of Campari in a cocktail shaker with ice. The mixture should be thoroughly stirred (but not shaken) and then strained into a rocks glass and garnished with a slice of orange or blood orange, or a slice of orange peel.

Are Negronis vegan?

Whether a Negroni is vegan or not vegan depends on the Campari that is used in the cocktail (gin and vermouth are both vegan-friendly). Some varieties of Campari use animal-by products for the filtration process and others (particularly in the past) use cochineal beetles as a colouring. You can find out more about additives and E numbers unsuitable for vegans here.

Are there allergens in Negroni?

There are no outright allergens in a Negroni. Campari and gin do not contain any of the 14 major food allergens, but some vermouth varieties may contain traces of Nuts.

You can find out more about the surprising allergen ingredients in some types of alcohol here, or use the Erudus Allergen & Nutritional Search to check if a product contains any allergens.

Who invented the Negroni?

Nobody can be sure exactly how or by whom the Negroni was invented, but most stories attribute it to the Negroni family, a member of whom allegedly asked a bartender to add gin to their Americano cocktail (made with Campari and vermouth) instead of the usual soda water. The family later founded the Negroni Distillerie in Treviso, Italy.

Other accounts trace the cocktail back to a cafe named the Caffè Casoni in Florence, circa 1919.

Do you drink Negroni straight?

You can drink Negroni straight up. It is usually served either straight up or on the rocks (over ice).

What do you serve a Negroni with?

Negronis are served with the garnish of a slice of orange, blood orange or orange peel. In terms of food, Negronis are not served with a meal, but are sometimes drunk at Aperitivo, with strongly flavoured foods such as olives and mature cheese.

Where does the name Negroni come from?

The Negroni takes its name from the Negroni family, who are said to have invented the cocktail, and later opened the Negroni Distillery in Treviso, Italy, where they manufactured a ready-made, bottled version of the cocktail (and still do).

Count Camilio Negroni was said to have developed a taste for strong alcohol during the time he spent in America’s Wild West.

Are Negronis gluten-free?

Yes, Negronis are gluten-free, and do not contain any ingredients derived from Cereals containing Gluten.

What glass do you serve a Negroni in?

A Negroni is traditionally served in a “rocks” glass. This glass is also sometimes referred to as an “Old Fashioned” glass, and is short and wide with a thick bottom.

These glasses are designed for “short” drinks that do not contain large amounts of ice or mixer ingredients.