Negroni Bianco
Negroni Bianco Recipe
I’ve never met a negroni I haven’t loved. And a negroni bianco is no exception. In fact, this simple three ingredient cocktail may be my negroni drink of choice, especially when made with mezcal (although this smoked negroni sour is close second favorite).
So, what is a negroni bianco + what makes it different FROM A CLASSIC NEGRONI?
A negroni bianco is quite simply, as the name implies, a white negroni. Unlike the signature deep rosy red shade of a traditional negroni, the bianco negroni is practically clear. But don’t let that fool you. This is one strong drink!
Just like a classic negroni, the bianco version is an apéritif made with gin. However, the red vermouth rosso found in the OG version is swapped for a white carpano bianco and in place of campari, luxardo bitter bianco is used instead. The result is a cocktail that packs a herbaceous punch, whereas the traditional negroni is a bit more citrusy and bitter in flavor.
Negroni Bianco Ingredients
Each of the three ingredients is an apertif, alcoholic in their own right. So you can imagine why, when combined, they create such a strong, but incredibly delicious, drink. Here’s the official line-up-
GIN- a distilled juniper flavored alcohol; the juniper flavor is especially perfect for herbiness of this drink, however, for a smoky twist, I also absolutely love making this with mezcal.
LUXARDO BITTER BIANCO- very similar to campari, but a little lighter, a little sweeter, a little less bitter and just a tad more complex; zesty notes of orange and lemon, rooty licorice bitterness, rosemary-led herbal nodes and a tad of peppery spice.
CARPANO BIANCO- Unlike the bitter bianco, carpano is a bit moodier with notes that are richer and darker with things like cacao, cinnamon, mace, licorice, figs, almond and orange zest. It’s bold but well-balanced, a little sweet and definitely unique. And I think with it’s flavor profile that it’s especially perfect for cocktails during the fall/winter time of year. If you don’t have access to carpano bianco, you can use another dry white vermouth of your choice instead.
GARNISHES- Garnishes are optional but can range from a citrus peel to a slice of citrus to a sprig of fresh rosemary to dehydrated citrus slices to some luxardo maraschino cherries.
HOW TO MAKE A NEGRONI BIANCO
When I tell you this is so easy to make that you could do it in your sleep I’m not even kidding. It’s literally equal parts of each of the three aperitifs, stirred, never shaken, poured over ice in a rocks glass and finished with your choice of garnish. Here’s the step-by-step just to show you truly how simple and easy is to make a negroni bianco-
STEP 1
Combine the gin (or use mezcal for a smokier flavor), Luxardo Bitter Bianco and Carpano Bianco (or another dry bianco vermouth) in a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled.
STEP 2
Strain into a rocks glass.
STEP 3
Finish off with the garnish(s) of your choice.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH A negroni bianco
A negroni bianco is best enjoyed on its own, but it does also make a great aperitivo hour beverage and pairs well with snacky bites. I tend to enjoy it best with things that are salty and rich to balance out the acidity and strength of the cocktail, so think things like potato chips, castelvetrano olives, cured meats, cubes of parmesan cheese and crackers.
BECAUSE FOOD TASTES BETTER WHEN IT’S SHARED WITH OTHERS…
If you make this negroni bianco cocktail, please snap a photo and share it, tagging me on INSTAGRAM or PINTEREST so I can see and we can virtually cheers each other. Truly nothing makes me happier than when I see others making and enjoying my recipes!
SHOP THE POST
EXACT (OR SIMILAR) ITEMS + INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE