If you love a Negroni, you’ll be all about these twists on the OG.

When it comes to gin cocktails, the Martini may be king for most people, but the bittersweet Negroni isn’t far away, ready to dethrone it. This is the cocktail world’s Macbeth to Duncan, or Harry to William (probably). Having lived in somewhat obscurity, the Negroni cocktail has garnered quite the cult following in the past few decades and lent its name to many variations. Remember the frenzy over the “Sbagliato – with prosecco in it”? Thank you, Emma D’Arcy.

The classic Negroni cocktail has some pretty famous fans, too. Topping that list is the late Anthony Bourdain, who described it as ”satanic delicious hell broth” and also recognised its other big appeal – it’s such an easy cocktail that “pretty much any chimpanzee” can make it. That’s our kind of drink. And while the OG Negroni is a deliciously simple mix of equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, its younger siblings play on the classic combination to create fun, interesting twists worthy of the Negroni name and, possibly, also the gin (and friends) cocktail crown.

Here, we share the classic Negroni recipe, along with 11 others that put their own spin on that winning three-ingredient formula to create some pretty compelling cocktails.

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1. Negroni cocktail recipe

The original and arguably the best, we’re kicking off with the classic Negroni cocktail recipe, which is traditionally made with equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth. In our recipe, that means 25mL of each, and the trick to a great Negroni is all in the chilling and diluting that’s done in a mixing glass with ice first. Stir for longer than you might expect – it will help integrate all those bold flavours – and strain it into a glass with fresh ice. Perfection.

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2. Enzoni cocktail recipe

This zingy, sour riff hasn’t reached the masses in the same way as others have, but give it time. Not so different from the original, the Enzoni subs the sweet vermouth for muddled green grapes, sugar syrup and lemon juice. So, where that sweet vermouth brings a herbaceous sweetness to balance the bitter Campari in a traditional Negroni, the Enzoni counters it with a sour sweetness. The result is still bittersweet, but fruitier and lighter than its predecessor.

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3. Yellow Negroni cocktail recipe

A Simon Difford invention, this twist is – you guessed it – full of yellow ingredients. It even changes the base spirit for pisco, which has us wondering, “What makes a Negroni a Negroni?” Existential questions aside, this is a delicious drink that balances its bitter ingredients with the sweet and sour notes of limoncello, but reintegrates those herbaceous, floral flavours with white vermouth and Yellow Chartreuse. The result? A herby, honeyed, bright, sweet and sour cocktail.

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4. White Negroni cocktail recipe

The White Negroni has had a bit of a tumultuous life. It was adored by bartenders for a while, then ostracised, then had a slow uptick, and now it’s back in all its Suzey glory. And we’re stoked. Think of it as a slightly gentler twist on the OG. It’s still got all those bittersweet, herby notes, but it’s a touch lighter and, obviously, white, mainly due to the Suze and white vermouth. To taste, it's very similar to the classic, but not quite as sharp, making this a more rounded sipper.

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5. Americano cocktail recipe

If you want to get technical, the Americano came before the Negroni, so this could be the actual OG. Whatever the case, this refreshing twist is a simple mix of sweet vermouth and Campari that gets topped with soda. In cutting out the gin, it becomes the high-rotation afternoon drink you’ve been searching for. Sweet and bitter, but bubbly and subtly diluted, bartenders love this lower-alc variant – and so do we. This drink is traditionally served short over lots of ice, but we love it as a Highball, too.

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6. Beericano cocktail recipe

There are riffs on riffs, and then there’s the Beericano. This three-ingredient refresher keeps the traditional Campari and sweet vermouth combination, and it subs out the soda that’s used in the Americano (and the gin at the centre of the Negroni) for a crisp lager. Beer? What? Intrigued? You should be. The Beericano is light, bubbly, bittersweet and fresh in all the best ways, and it proves beyond doubt that yes, beer absolutely does belong in cocktails.

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7. Negroni Sbagliato cocktail recipe

Mirko Stocchetto accidentally made this cocktail (sbagliato means ‘mistake’), and Emma D’Arcy made it an internet sensation, which is everything it deserves. Sbagliato’s popularity hasn’t dropped since the infamous insta clip – it’s still a hot favourite. Why? Because it absolutely delivers. Much like the Americano (and Beericano), here you get a refreshing mix of Campari and sweet vermouth, but this time with sparkling wine. It’s a perfect cocktail for when you feel like a Negroni, but also want something sparkly and fun.

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8. Negroni Sour cocktail recipe

Proving that there’s no end to the possiblities when it comes to Sours, this mash-up brings everything that is good and right with the classic Negroni and mooshes it together with the best bits of a Sour. This keeps all three OG ingredients, and adds orange juice and egg white that inject some all-important sweetness and froth. Consider this an excellent stepping stone for people who insist they don’t like Negronis, and a refreshing change for the Negroni purists.

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9. Cold Brew Negroni cocktail recipe

This may not be for everyone, and there might be a few coffee nerds protesting, but coffee deserves a Negroni finish – and vice versa. Talk to any barista, and they’ll tell you the unique floral, herbal and vegetal notes in coffee can not only match the botanicals of the gin but also elements of the Campari – coffee is a surprisingly versatile ingredient. We reckon the Cold Brew Negroni will convert even your most diehard coffee-nerd friends. And if they already like Negronis, this may well be their fave new cocktail.

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10. Remember the Alimony cocktail recipe

We bloody love sherry around these parts and now, at last, we have a Negroni that doesn’t just dip its toe in the sherry river – it wades right in. Still using the gin base of the classic Negroni, this one swaps the sweet vermouth for the dry and rounded fino sherry, and the Campari gets subbed out for the bittersweet and complex Cynar – a delicious artichoke liqueur. The result is a twist that is far drier than the original Negroni, but still herbaceous and pleasantly bitter with a great vegetal aftertaste (that’d be the artichoke). Serve this over a huge chunk of ice with a lemon twist.

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11. Rosita cocktail recipe

Okay, so we know that gin is critical in the Negroni, but this one, with tequila, is one of the best twists we know. The Rosita takes all the things we love about the oldie, but it splits the sweet vermouth with dry vermouth, and substitutes the gin for tequila to create a fresh, complex variation on the classic. Think bright crunchy green notes from the tequila and slightly less sweetness, all while maintaining that distinctive bittersweet Negroni flavour. Serve this as you would the original, with a good chunk of ice and a fresh lemon twist.

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12. Boulevardier cocktail recipe

While we’re switching up the base spirit, we can’t go past the Boulevardier. Following the same winning formula, this cocktail dates back about 100 years, and puts bourbon front and centre. MIxed together with the familiar Campari and sweet vermouth, the result here is rich and complex with those oaky, deep notes from the whiskey shining in this combination. This is an excellent pick for that friend who only ever orders a Negroni – they might just be converted.