Classic White Negroni Recipe

The negroni has really taken to the spotlight in the past years. Over 100 years after its recorded beginnings and 10 years after the introduction of Negroni Week, the cocktail continues to be popular among a wide range of crowds. In 2021 it was named "cocktail of the year" by The Guardian, and the following year, the negroni sbagliato became the drink for anyone in the know. 

We're predicting that this classic white negroni will become this year's favorite. Tasting Table recipe developer Molly Madigan Pisula shares this easy recipe that you can mix and serve in five minutes. She describes it as "a little lighter and more floral than a traditional Negroni," adding that it's "perfect for summer!" As she points out, "Once you have these ingredients on hand, it's so quick to whip up." Even better, if you're hosting Pisula notes, "You could definitely batch this cocktail if you wanted to serve it for a crowd." 

For one classic white negroni, you'll need 1 ½ ounces of gin, 1 ounce of Lillet blanc, and ½ ounce of Suze liqueur. Although a standard negroni calls for equal parts of each ingredient, Pisula says, "This recipe has the most common proportion used now for this cocktail." By reducing the amount of Suze, the bitterness is tamed.

Garnish the drink with a lemon twist. Pisula suggests orange or grapefruit as alternatives. As far as cocktails go, the ingredient list is very short and the flavors can't hide behind sugar. "The gin really shines through," Pisula explains and says, "For that reason, I recommend choosing a high-quality gin for this recipe. I like the botanicals of Bombay Sapphire combined with the Suze in this cocktail, but use whatever gin you like!"

If you've never tried Suze, our recipe developer explains, "It's a French gentian liqueur that is mostly bitter with a hint of sweet, and "a little citrusy too. It replaces the Campari, which is the bitter used in a traditional Negroni." If it's not available at your liquor store, she recommends using Cocchi Americano instead.

Add some ice cubes to a mixing glass and pour in the gin, Lillet blanc, and Suze. Pisula explains, "The more ice you add, the colder your drink, and the longer it will take for the ice to melt." If you don't want to be disappointed by a watered-down drink, she recommends "using lots of ice," and specifies, "the larger the ice cube the better." If you're equipped, "Using one single large ice cube works the best," according to our recipe developer. 

Stir the spirits with the ice for 20 to 30 seconds to chill them down. If you are batch-making the cocktail, skip this step and simply refrigerate the spirits after combining.

Pisula likes to use a lowball glass to serve this classic white negroni cocktail and notes, that it's "also known as an Old Fashioned glass or a rocks glass." Add ice to your glass then strain the cocktail over top. If you batch-made the drink, remove it from the fridge and portion it into glasses with ice. 

Garnish the drink with a lemon twist to add a heady citrus aroma. This refreshing drink is such a pleasant alternative to its crimson relative. If you enjoy the nuances of gin, you'll want to compare various bottles to find your favorite pairing for this cocktail.