Earlier this week, we gave you a few recommendations of where to celebrate Negroni Week. While it may be fun to hop around town tasting the variations on the gin-based classic, you can also bring out your inner bartender and try your hand at it. You don’t have to be a world class bartender to make the cocktail—you just need the right ingredients. Mary Wright and McLain Hedges of the Proper Pour and RiNo Yacht Club at the Source have three pairings for the cocktail.
The classic recipe for a Negroni is equal parts gin, vermouth, and Campari combined in a mixing glass, stirred and served over ice with an orange peel for garnish. However, these bottle combinations make it so you can mix and match portions to your liking. Here’s a few choices of what you can do.
The Classic Negroni
Using gin from Woody Creek Distillers (or a dry gin of your choice), Campari and Antica Formula Vermouth, you’ll get the most traditional version of the recipe. Combine 1 ounce of each ingredient over ice for the perfect Negroni. It doesn’t get much more classic than this combination.
The Local Negroni
If you want to go extra local with your at-home Negroni bar, Leopold Bros. Navy Strength Gin is where you want to start. The Colorado distiller also makes an Italian-style aperetivo that can be used in place of traditional Campari. Combine the Leopold Bros. spirits with Vermut Miro—a subtly sweet vermouth with a bitter touch. We recommend switching up portions to 1.5 ounces gin, 1 ounce Leopold’s Aperetivo, and 1 ounce Vermut Miro for a strong and slightly floral mix.
The White Negroni
The last combination is further from a classic Negroni, but equally as satisfying to sip on. Jackelope and Jenny Pear Gin from Peach Street Distillers is the base spirit here, with Suze Saveur D’Autrefois bringing a highly floral and bittersweet note to the cocktail. Dolin Blanc Vermouth brings a dessert wine taste with honey-like notes with a twinge of bitterness to make the white Negroni an approachable and, perhaps, more summery elixir.