Cold Brew Negroni
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 23.6% ABV ∙
The Cold Brew Negroni stirs gin, sweet vermouth and a red bitter such as Campari with a splash of cold brew coffee. Bittersweet and roasty, the coffee deepens the Campari's bite into something darker and more espresso-like, finishing dry — a slow-sipping après-dinner pour.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 30 mlRosso vermouth 25 mlRed bitter 20 mlCold brew coffee 10 ml
- Strain into the ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice)
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Add the cold brew last in small amount so its water content doesn't over-dilute the stir before ice contact.
- Stir with large cubes for about 20-25 seconds to reach proper dilution without watering down the small coffee addition.
- Use a freshly-pulled or well-chilled cold brew, never hot-brewed coffee cooled quickly, to avoid muddying the gin's botanicals.
- Express the orange twist over the glass to release oils, then rub the rim before dropping it in for aroma.
History
The Cold Brew Negroni is a modern riff on the Negroni, the Italian classic 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 among rival claimants. The Cold Brew Negroni takes this equal-parts template and adds a small measure of cold brew coffee to the stir, layering a roasted, bitter edge onto the classic bittersweet profile.
FAQ
What is a Cold Brew Negroni?
It is a Negroni built with London dry gin, sweet vermouth, and a red bitter such as Campari, with a small amount of cold brew coffee stirred in. The coffee adds a roasted, bitter depth on top of the classic bittersweet profile, and the drink is stirred and served over ice with an orange twist.
What is in a Cold Brew Negroni?
London dry gin, sweet (rosso) vermouth, a red bitter like Campari, and a splash of cold brew coffee, stirred and served over ice with an orange twist. The gin leads, with the vermouth and bitter in their usual Negroni roles and the coffee layered in as a fourth note.
How do you make a Negroni cocktail?
A classic Negroni is stirred from equal parts gin, a red bitter such as Campari, and sweet vermouth, then served over ice with an orange twist. This build shifts that ratio slightly gin-forward and adds a small amount of cold brew coffee for a roasted edge.
Is a Negroni very alcoholic?
A Negroni is a strong, spirit-forward drink, and this Cold Brew version comes in at about 23.6% ABV. That is lower than a neat spirit but well above a beer or wine, since it is built entirely from gin, vermouth, and a fortified bitter with no dilution beyond the stir.
What alcohol goes well with cold brew coffee?
Gin and bittersweet, herbal liqueurs pair well with cold brew, which is why it works in a Negroni-style build: the coffee's roasted bitterness echoes the red bitter and lets the gin's botanicals still come through. Dark spirits like whiskey or aged rum are also common cold brew pairings, though this recipe keeps it gin-based.
Is cold brew coffee OK for diabetics?
Plain, unsweetened cold brew coffee has minimal carbohydrates and is generally considered fine for diabetics in moderation, though anyone with diabetes should check with a doctor about caffeine and any added sweeteners. This cocktail uses a small amount of cold brew alongside alcohol, so its sugar content depends mainly on the vermouth and bitter, not the coffee.
