Chill your glass. You can do this by filling it with ice and water while you prepare the drink, then discard the water just before you pour.
In a mixing glass or directly in your serving glass if you’re not pre-chilling, combine equal parts of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
Add a good amount of ice to the mix. Stir the ingredients together until well chilled and properly diluted, which usually takes about 30 seconds. The stirring helps to blend the flavors without aerating the drink too much.
If you used a separate mixing glass, strain the cocktail into your chilled glass. If you mixed directly in the serving glass, you can skip this step.
Squeeze the oils from an orange peel over the surface of the drink, then rub the peel around the rim of the glass for extra aroma. Drop the peel into the drink.
Serve immediately. A Negroni is best enjoyed when it’s cold and the flavors are balanced.
Notes
The Negroni is known for its strong, bitter flavor profile. If you find it too bitter, you might start with a bit less Campari or try a lighter gin.
Some variations include the “Boulevardier,” which substitutes whiskey for gin, or the “Negroni Sbagliato,” which uses sparkling wine instead of gin for a lighter version.
