Kingston Negroni
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 23.6% ABV ∙
The Kingston Negroni swaps gin for Jamaican aged rum alongside a red bitter and rich vermouth, stirred and served over ice. Funky, banana-and-spice rum notes push through the bitter orange peel, while the vermouth's raisin sweetness rounds out a dry, lingering finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Jamaican aged rum 30 mlRed bitter 30 mlCarpano Antica Formula vermouth 30 ml
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Garnish with an orange twist
Tips
- Use a funky, full-bodied Jamaican aged rum — a light or white rum gets lost against the bitter and vermouth.
- Express the orange twist over the glass before dropping it in — the oils lift the rum's spice notes.
- Stir until the outside of the mixing glass frosts, about 30 seconds, so the rum doesn't overpower an under-chilled pour.
History
The Kingston Negroni was created by bartender Joaquín Simó at Death & Co in New York in 2009, after liquor importer Eric Seed brought a bottle of Smith & Cross Jamaican rum into the bar. Simó, working alongside Phil Ward, stirred the funky overproof rum into a Negroni in place of gin, and the drink debuted on the Death & Co menu in the spring of 2010, quickly spreading to bars across the country.
The Negroni itself is an Italian aperitif of equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, widely traced to Florence around 1919, when Count Camillo Negroni is said to have asked a bartender to strengthen his usual Americano with gin instead of soda water. The Kingston Negroni keeps that equal-parts structure but swaps in Jamaican rum for the gin, trading the original's dry, juniper-forward profile for a heavier, funkier character.
FAQ
What is a Kingston Negroni?
It is a Negroni variation that replaces gin with Jamaican aged rum, stirred with a red bitter and rich vermouth and served over ice with an orange twist. The rum's funky, spiced character stands in for the gin's botanicals while keeping the classic's equal-parts structure.
How does a Kingston Negroni differ from a classic Negroni?
A classic Negroni is gin, a red bitter, and sweet vermouth in equal parts; the Kingston Negroni swaps the gin for Jamaican aged rum. This build also uses Carpano Antica Formula, a richer, vanilla-and-dried-fruit vermouth that stands up to the rum's funk.
What rum is best for a Kingston Negroni?
A funky, full-bodied Jamaican aged rum works best because it holds its own against the bitter and vermouth. This build uses Jamaican aged rum specifically, not a light or spiced rum, since the drink relies on that rum's distinct funk and spice for identity.
Is a Kingston Negroni sweet or bitter?
It is bitter-forward, like any Negroni, but the Jamaican rum and Carpano Antica vermouth add a deeper, spiced sweetness underneath the bitter orange notes than the gin version gives. At roughly 23.6% ABV, it drinks as a strong, spirit-forward sipper rather than a sweet cocktail.
