Cold Brew Negroni cocktail recipe

Is there a more riffable cocktail than the Negroni? Sure, there’s the Martini (with so many ways to spice it up), all those Daiquiris (blender or not, take your pick), and every other fruit that can get worked into a Mojito. The original Negroni is versatile enough to suit any palate, but this one is for the coffee-lover (and even those who just like the ‘smell’ of it) – meet the Cold Brew Negroni.

There are already riffs on this coffee riff (we could get quite Inception here), but one of the most well-known recipes comes from the mind of New York bartender Pam Wiznitzer. For her version, Pam goes beyond just stirring through cold brew and infuses the Campari with ground coffee before straining and mixing it all together.

We’re keeping things simple here and mixing pre-made cold brew with the Negroni classics: gin, sweet vermouth and Campari. Although, unlike the original, which stands with equal parts of each, we balance the sweet, mellow coffee with extra piney-gin to reinforce that sophisticated Negroni bite. Like the many (many) other versions, this too has an orange twist. Visually, it’s hard to tell it apart from the OG (unlike all those Mojito riffs), so the surprise here is in the sip. And isn’t that nice sometimes?

As you’ve probably gathered from the name, coffee plays a big role here. For maximum ease, just pick up a takeaway from a cafe, or you could also make your own cold brew. It’s simple – just steep ground coffee in a jug of water (a roughly 1:4 ratio of coffee to water) for at least 12 hours in the fridge. You could also try Pam’s version, and pour the grounds straight into the Campari. Both will need straining, or you could do it in a designated filtered jug.

One of the key appeals (and equally divisive points) of a Negroni can be its overarching bitterness. Despite the inclusion of coffee, the cold brew actually helps subdue that bitter hit, but if you do still find it too much, use less Campari or add a touch more gin to taste. Bitterness is a very personal preference.

If you still want more from your Negronis, check out the White Negroni, Negroni Spagliato or its sibling, the Boulevardier.