Bloody Negroni
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 19.1% ABV ∙
The Bloody Negroni is a stirred twist on the Negroni, trading part of the sweet vermouth for fresh blood orange juice alongside gin and a red bitter. Bittersweet and citrus-bright, the blood orange softens the Campari-style bitterness into a rounder, juicier finish than the original — a good cool-weather aperitif.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Briefly stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 20 mlRed bitter 20 mlRosso vermouth 20 mlBlood orange juice 20 ml
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a blood orange wheel
Tips
- Stir all four equal parts over large ice cubes for about 20-25 seconds to chill and dilute without watering down the juice component.
- Strain into an old-fashioned glass over one large cube, since the fresh juice already softens the bitter and sweet spirit ratio.
- Cut the blood orange wheel just before serving and express its oils over the surface before setting it on the rim as garnish.
History
The Bloody Negroni is a modern variation on the Negroni, a cocktail whose most widely reported origin traces to Florence, Italy. Accounts commonly date its creation to 1919 at Caffè Casoni, where bartender Fosco Scarselli is said to have strengthened a regular customer's usual Americano by replacing the soda water with gin, at the request of Count Camillo Negroni, and marked the new drink with an orange garnish in place of the Americano's lemon. The Bloody Negroni takes this equal-parts formula and adds blood orange juice, lending the drink its deeper red color and its name.
FAQ
What is in a Bloody Negroni?
Equal parts London dry gin, a red bitter such as Campari, and rosso vermouth, stirred with fresh blood orange juice and served over ice. The juice replaces part of the usual vermouth-heavy sweetness with a tart, citrus note, and the drink is garnished with a blood orange wheel.
Is a Bloody Negroni shaken or stirred?
Stirred. Stirring keeps the drink clear and spirit-forward rather than aerated and cloudy, which suits a Negroni-style build even with the added juice.
What glass is a Bloody Negroni served in?
An old-fashioned (rocks) glass, garnished with a blood orange wheel.
Can I make a Bloody Negroni with a different citrus?
Blood orange is what defines this build, giving it a tart, faintly berry-like character and its distinctive color; a regular orange juice would work in a pinch but produces a sweeter, less complex result.
