The classic Negroni is an original 1:1:1 cocktail (equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari). ‘But the thing is,’ believes former BA editor Julia Kramer, ‘equal parts cocktails don’t always taste that good – tastes have changed since these proportions were codified.’ The team at London’s Chiltern Fire Station Say yes to this twist on a classic cocktail recipe. They tweaked the proportions for modern tastes, creating a gin version of the drink to control the bittersweet Italian aperitif Campari. Sweet vermouth (aka red vermouth) is the third player here, and it’s worth shelling out the big bucks for a good bottle: We love the vanilla and dry finish of Carpano Antica Formula, but so does Punt e Mes or Cocchi Storico Not a bad choice.
There’s no shortage of Negroni riffs out there. The most famous of these is the sbagliato (famous for “negroni sbagliato…with prosecco in it”), which uses gin instead of sparkling wine – think of it as a halfway point between a spritz and a negroni .There’s also a white Negroni with Lillet Blanc and the delightfully bitter French aperitif Suze; and a cocktail punch with gin and Prosecco. You can also try pairing it with other aperitifs: swap out the Campari for a lighter Aperol or herbal Génépy. For a chilled vibe, substitute bourbon for the gin and you’ll have a boulevard. Want a lower alcohol version? Swap the gin for soda water and the orange peel for a lemon wedge, and you’ve got an Americano.