Chocolate Negroni
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 26.6% ABV ∙
The Chocolate Negroni is a stirred spirit-forward twist on the Negroni, adding white crème de cacao and chocolate bitters to gin, Punt e Mes, and a red bitter. Cocoa softens the bitter edge before it snaps back dry, with the gin's juniper and a whisper of orange peeling through the finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 30 mlPunt e Mes 20 mlRed bitter 20 mlWhite Crème de Cacao 10 mlChocolate bitters 3 dashes
- Strain into the ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice)
- Garnish with an orange wheel
Tips
- Stir over large ice cubes for about 30 seconds; over-stirring with small cubes dilutes too fast and mutes the crème de cacao's texture.
- Measure the crème de cacao carefully at 10 ml since even a slight overpour makes the drink cloying and unbalances the bitter-sweet ratio against the Campari and Punt e Mes.
- The three dashes of chocolate bitters go into the mixing glass with everything else — stirring them through is what ties the cacao note to the bitter base rather than leaving it sitting on top.
- Express the orange wheel's oils over the glass before dropping it in, reinforcing the citrus note that ties the bitter and cacao flavors together.
History
The Chocolate Negroni is a variation on the Negroni, a cocktail most commonly traced to Florence in 1919, when Count Camillo Negroni is said to have asked for his usual Americano strengthened with gin — an origin story that is widely repeated but debated. The Chocolate Negroni itself is credited to Naren Young, an Australian-born bartender, who developed it as a signature drink at Caffe Dante (later Dante) in New York City's Greenwich Village sometime in the 2000s. His version builds on the Negroni template by adding a splash of crème de cacao and chocolate bitters alongside the classic gin, Campari, and vermouth, using Punt e Mes in place of standard sweet vermouth.
FAQ
What is in a Chocolate Negroni?
London dry gin, Punt e Mes, a red bitter such as Campari, white crème de cacao, and chocolate bitters, stirred over ice and garnished with an orange wheel. The crème de cacao and chocolate bitters are what separate it from a classic Negroni, adding a cocoa layer beneath the bitter orange notes.
What are the three ingredients in a Negroni?
A classic Negroni is equal parts gin, a red bitter such as Campari, and sweet vermouth, stirred and served over ice. This Chocolate Negroni builds on that base but is not equal parts: it uses Punt e Mes in place of standard sweet vermouth and adds white crème de cacao and chocolate bitters for a cocoa-accented variation.
Is a Chocolate Negroni shaken or stirred?
Stirred. The gin, Punt e Mes, red bitter, and crème de cacao are all clear, spirit-based ingredients, so stirring chills and dilutes them without the cloudiness a shake would cause.
What glass is a Chocolate Negroni served in?
An old-fashioned (rocks) glass, garnished with an orange wheel.
What is the sweet version of a Negroni?
Several riffs sweeten the classic Negroni, and the Chocolate Negroni is one of them, adding white crème de cacao and chocolate bitters to soften the bitterness with cocoa. Others swap in sweeter vermouths or liqueurs, but the underlying gin-and-red-bitter backbone stays the same.
Is a Chocolate Negroni vegan?
Yes, this recipe is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, since white crème de cacao is a cocoa-flavored liqueur rather than a dairy cream product.
