Aperol Negroni

Ingredients

Aperol vs. Campari

Italian aperitivos are intended to be pre-dinner drinks that stimulate the appetite. Aperol and Campari are both amaro, which means “bitter” in Italian. Aperol is slightly sweet and one of the least bitter amari (the plural of amaro). It’s a lighter amaro than Campari, coming in at 11% alcohol by volume compared to Campari’s 24% (48 proof).

Sweet vermouth vs. dry vermouth

Vermouth is a fortified wine typically labeled as dry (white) or sweet (rosso). Dry vermouth originates from France and is, as you would expect, less sweet. You may also be able to find a sweeter white vermouth labeled blanc or bianco.

Sweet vermouth has a higher amount of residual sugar and has a spicy or peppery flavor. But as with any wine, vermouth flavors do vary. Drink the one you like!

Best gin for Negronis

Most classic Negroni recipes call for a London dry gin. I’m a huge fan of Tanqueray, but I also recommend Beefeater or Bombay Sapphire. These are juniper-forward gins with fewer distracting botanicals.

Ice

You may not think of cocktail ice as a critical ingredient, but it is. The type of ice in your cocktail can do different things in a drink made for sipping, like this Aperol Negroni, versus a drink that’s made to chill you quickly on a hot day.

For highball cocktails like this blue mojito, you want crushed ice or small ice cubes with large amounts of surface area to melt quickly. However, to really enjoy an aperitif like this Aperol Negroni, you want large ice cubes that melt slowly, allowing you to enjoy your cocktail without guzzling it down.

Variations and substitutions

• Substitute dry vermouth in place of the sweet vermouth to make a Contessa.
• Use Campari instead of Aperol in the same ratios for a classic Negroni.
• Use cynar for a Cynar Negroni or any of the amari that fall in between!
• Try other Negroni variations like this cranberry Negroni or the Negroni spritz.

About the Negroni

The classic Negroni is said to have been created in the late 1800s in Italy. But the Negroni has skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years due to Stanley Tucci. Who wouldn’t want a cocktail made by that man?

Making the cocktail

Add the Aperol, gin, and vermouth to your cocktail shaker with a handful of ice. Stir for 30 seconds, then strain into a lowball glass with ice and garnish with the orange slice or dehydrated orange slices.

Aperol Negroni taste test

When you don’t know your preference, there’s nothing better than comparing drinks to figure it out! You can do taste tests with this Aperol Negroni like for my brandy manhattan and peanut butter manhattan.

You’ll make three Aperol Negronis. Make one with sweet vermouth like in this recipe. Make one with an ounce of dry vermouth. And make one with a half ounce of the two. If you do this comparison, please leave a comment to let me know which you prefer!