Mezcal Negroni Recipe

The classic Negroni has been around for over a century, but have you ever wondered what it would taste like with Mezcal in place of gin? The answer: wilder, bolder, and more captivating.

The Mezcal Negroni is one of the most successful variations to emerge from the cocktail bar scene in recent years. It carries a deep smokiness, but this isn't a simple char. It's a layered complexity of earth and botanicals.

The first sip brings that familiar bittersweet hit of Campari, and then the smoke begins to rise in the back half, like a campfire filter laid over a classic Negroni. Let's make one.

Prep Time: 5 min | Servings: 1

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Tools Needed
• Steps

Ingredients

• Mezcal (1.5 oz / 45 ml): The backbone of this cocktail. Mezcal takes a slightly larger pour here. At equal parts, its smokiness tends to get overwhelmed by Campari's bittersweet weight. The extra half ounce gives it the presence it needs.
• Campari (1 oz / 30 ml): The source of bitterness. It delivers that signature orange peel bite and red color, layered with citrus, herbs, and a faint caramel flavor.
• Sweet Vermouth (1 oz / 30 ml): Brings a rounded sweetness and complex herbal finish. It softens Campari's sharper edges and holds the whole drink together.
• Orange peel (1 strip): Optional garnish. The expressed oils add a fresh, fruity lift that bridges the smoke and bitterness with a bright aromatic layer.

Tools Needed

• Mixing Glass: For combining the spirits and ice.
• Bar Spoon: For gently stirring the ingredients to achieve the right dilution and chill.
• Jigger: For measuring each ingredient accurately and keeping the recipe balanced.
• Strainer: For straining the drink into the glass.

Steps

1. Add one large ice cube to a rocks glass and set aside.
2. Fill a mixing glass about 2/3 full with ice.
3. Measure the Mezcal, Campari, and sweet vermouth with a jigger and add them to the mixing glass.
4. Stir gently with a bar spoon for 20 to 30 seconds, until well combined and chilled.
5. Strain into the prepared glass.
6. Garnish with the orange peel.

If you want to show off a little, hold the peel over an open flame for a few seconds, then twist it over the glass. The expressed oils will briefly ignite, adding a flash of charred citrus that echoes the drink's smoky character.