Based on a white Negroni, this cocktail recipe from Pittsburgh jazz bar Con Alma gets its name from jazz trumpeter Erik Truffaz’s song of the same name. Featuring Thai basil & Jalapeño infused Jin JiJi as its main ingredient, Con Alma Mixologist Hannah McKee, says of Magrouni, “It has a very cool Indian sound to it, and since this riff features an Indian dry gin, it seemed like a good fit.”

What is a White Negroni? 

Traditionally speaking, the Negroni is made with equal parts Campari, gin, and sweet red vermouth and always garnished with an orange wheel. A white Negroni typically has gin, Lillet Blanc, and Suze, an Alpine French liqueur that gives the drink its yellow color instead of the traditional orange-red hue. There are many variations, though, as some bartenders use Luxardo Bitter Bianco, Cocchi Americano, Salers, or other gentian liqueurs. Hannah’s take on it uses an infused Jin JiJi, giving this a spicier, dryer flavor than the ordinary white Negroni. Rather than Suze, she also used Chiot Montamaro, another Alpine digestivo that’s less bitter than many other amari.

Magrouni White Negroni

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• Author: Hannah McKee

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Description

A new take on a Negroni.

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Ingredients

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• 1 oz Thai basil & Jalapeno infused Jin JiJi
• .5 oz Lillet Blanc
• .5 Bordigo Chiot Montamaro bitters

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Instructions

1. Add the infused Jin JiJi, Lillet Blanc, and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a wine glass over a large ice cube.

Recipe by Hannah McKee, Con Alma Mixologist
Photography by Dave Bryce
Produced by Star Laliberte

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Any drink that asks us to rinse our glass with moonshine deserves respect. After completing this intriguing step, the rest looks mostly familiar to a negroni cocktail recipe: gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth take the lead. However, a Pinot noir reduction, made by gently simmering red wine and sugar until syrupy, adds a little symphony of unexpected flavor notes to this cocktail, even as it intensifies its red color. Let your nose do some of the work here: the bouquet is worth a moment of appreciation.

Traditionally speaking, the Negroni uses equal parts Campari, gin, and sweet red vermouth and always comes with an orange wheel garnish.

What Does Rinsing a Glass with Moonshine Do?

Rinsing a glass with moonshine is a technique in some cocktail recipes to add a subtle flavor and complex aroma to the drink. It is similar to rinsing a glass with absinthe in a sazerac cocktail. In the Blood Moon Negroni, the moonshine is swirled around the glass to coat the inside, then the excess is discarded. This leaves a trace of the moonshine’s flavor and aroma, which can enhance the overall drinking experience especially with simple cocktails. However, moonshine is one you want to use sparingly thanks to its high-proof alcohol.

Blood Moon Negroni

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• Author: Dan Ball

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Description

Moonshine and a negroni? It’s a better pairing than you may think.

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Ingredients

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• ¼ oz Saint Luna Moonshine
• 1 oz Bluecoat Gin
• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
• ½ oz pinot noir reduction
• 3 dashes orange bitters
• Blood orange for garnish

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Instructions

1. Rinse the glass with moonshine.
2. Shake the remaining ingredients with ice.
3. Pour over a round cube in a double old-fashioned glass.
4. Garnish Negroni cocktail with a blood orange wheel, dried or fresh.

Recipe by Dan Ball, Hyeholde Mixologist
Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Dave Bryce
Produced by Star Laliberte

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In this fun twist on a Negroni cocktail, the herbal notes of chamomile-infused Bluecoat Gin join with the sweetness of strawberry-infused Aperol and the light, floral delicacy of Lillet Rosé. The special touch here: homemade strawberry juice ice cubes, which lend a fresh, sweet-and-tart brightness to this extremely sippable (and nicely pink) drink. Rizzo and the rest of the Pink Ladies from Grease would approve.

Traditionally speaking, the Negroni uses equal parts Campari, gin, and sweet red vermouth and always comes with an orange wheel garnish.

How to Infuse Spirits

For chamomile gin in this Negroni Twist cocktail recipe, start with a good quality gin and add dried chamomile flowers to the bottle. The ratio depends on your taste, but we recommend using about a tablespoon of dried flowers per bottle. You’re going to want to let it steep for a few days. Taste it once in a while: chamomile can become bitter with over-steeping.

The strawberry Aperol, is slightly trickier due to the water content of the fruit. But, you can macerate fresh strawberries with a bit of sugar for a few hours to draw out their juices and make it easier to infuse. Simply add the macerated mixture to your Aperol and let it infuse for a few days, once again tasting regularly. Strain both infusions when you’re done. You can also save the extra infusions in your fridge in a tightly sealed bottle.

The Beauty School Dropout: A Negroni Twist

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• Author: Rachel Sinagra

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Description

It’s the infused spirits that bring this twist on a negroni to life.

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Ingredients

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• 1 punnett (small basket or container) of fresh strawberries
• 1 ¼ oz chamomile-infused Bluecoat Gin
• 1 oz strawberry-infused Aperol
• ¼ oz Lillet Rosé

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Instructions

1. Purée a punnett of fresh strawberries and freeze the results in an ice cube tray.
2. Shake the other ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
3. Put a strawberry ice cube or two in a double old-fashioned glass and pour the mixture to the brim.

Recipe by Rachel Sinagra, Fig & Ash Mixologist
Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Dave Bryce
Produced by Star Laliberte

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A beloved classic from Con Alma’s very first cocktail list, this Negroni is built around a base of Zafra rum. This rich, 21-year-old rum burnishes the drink to a special mellowness. Contratto, with its ingredient list of 28 herbs, roots, and spices gives added complexity, as do the bark and cherry notes of Amargo-Vallet.

What is an Aperitif in This Negroni Con Alma?

An aperitif can refer to either a beverage or liqueur to be consumed prior to dinner time. Usually, you’ll see two categories of aperitifs, either aromatized wine (vermouth) or an aperitivo bitter (Aperol and Campari). In the case of the Contratto Aperitif below, this bitter liqueur combines perfectly with our Negroni Con Alma. It adds a low-ABV element to this otherwise boozy cocktail, making it perfect to sip on while talking with friends or enjoying small bites before dinner. It’s a bit more complex and vibrant than Aperol but still adds a similar taste.

Negroni Con Alma

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• Author: Hannah Mckee

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Description

Just three ingredients mix up a version of the negroni that’s a bit darker.

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Ingredients

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• 1 ½ oz Zafra Master Reserve 21 Year Rum
• 1 oz Contratto Aperitif
• ¼ oz Amargo-Vallet Angostura Bitter

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Instructions

1. Add the rum, Campari, Contratto Aperitif, and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a rock glass over a large ice cube.

Recipe by Hannah McKee, Con Alma Mixologist
Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Dave Bryce
Produced by Star Laliberte

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The Espresso Negroni, also known as the Negroni Svegliato (Italian for “wide awake”), can be both an aperitivo and a digestivo. Its dose of caffeine helps keep you energized, while its otherwise classic ingredients and proportions delight the palate. No matter when you choose to imbibe, sip slowly to appreciate the four-way conversation between coffee, sugars, gin, and bitters. They have a lot to say to each other.

Traditionally speaking, the Negroni is made with equal parts Campari, gin, and sweet red vermouth and always garnished with an orange wheel.

Tips for Making an Espresso Negroni 

Make sure you’re using fresh-brewed espresso. For true Italian espresso, use a moka pot. For a little extra thrill, pre-chill the glass before making the cocktail. And use large ice cubes in your serving glass to slow down the dilution and keep the drink cold. Plus, feel free to tweak the ratios to suit your palate. If you prefer it a bit sweeter, add a touch more vermouth or simple syrup.

Espresso Negroni

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• Author: Sarah Cascone

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Description

Adding a bit of espresso to your negroni will have you ready to party all night long.

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Ingredients

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• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz sweet vermouth
• 1 oz American Aviation Gin
• 1/2 oz fresh-brewed espresso
• 1/2 oz citrus simple syrup
• Garnish with orange twist

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Instructions

1. Add the Campari, sweet vermouth, gin, espresso, and citrus simple syrup to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a rock glass over ice. Garnish Espresso Negroni with an orange twist.

Recipe by Sarah Cascone
Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Dave Bryce
Produced by Star Laliberte

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Earl Grey tea is rightly treasured for the citrussy, aromatic bergamot oil overtones it layers onto the gentle bitterness of black tea leaves. A Negroni made with Earl Grey-infused gin results in a cocktail rich with botanical sophistication. Campari, made from bitter chinotto oranges, along with gentian root, quinine, and other natural flavorings, deepens the drink’s dive into the botanical world. So does Carpano Antica, made from southern Italian white wines, tropical vanilla beans, and a host of herbs. Slowly savor the abundant natural flavor, and the subtlety, of this recipe.

Traditionally speaking, the Negroni always uses equal parts Campari, gin, and sweet red vermouth and always gets an orange wheel garnish.

How to Infuse Gin with Earl Grey

We’ve linked below to instructions for infusing gin with Earl Grey from Thirty-One Whiskey, because we understand you might not just have Earl Grey-infused gin laying around in your house. But infusing spirits is easier than you might think. Gin starts out as flavorless neutral spirits. The botanicals are added through steeping and distillation. Adding tea is no different. And all you’ll have to need is paper coffee filters, a measuring cup, a strainer, Earl Grey tea, and gin. Once you have the infused gin, then you can make this cocktail and countless others!

Earl Grey Negroni

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• Author: Tyler Lewis

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Description

A bit of earl grey is all the traditional negroni recipe was missing.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 oz earl grey-infused gin
• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
• Lemon bitters
• Garnish with lemon wheel

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Instructions

1. Add the gin, Campari, vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a rock glass over a large ice cube.
3. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Recipe by Tyler Lewis, Jackworth Ginger Beer
Story by Keith Recker
Photography by Dave Bryce
Produced by Star Laliberte

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