The classic Negroni formula uses gin, sweet vermouth and Campari in equal parts: 1:1:1.
The ingredients are typically stirred with ice and served over fresh ice, often with an orange peel or orange slice. Equal proportions create a balance between gin’s botanicals, vermouth’s sweetness and Campari’s bitter, citrus-like flavor. Bartenders may adjust the ratio, but those variations are not the original basic formula.
The cocktail is widely linked to Count Camillo Negroni in Florence around 1919. According to the famous account, he asked bartender Fosco Scarselli to strengthen an Americano by replacing soda water with gin. The story is celebrated, although cocktail historians have examined other possible origins.
The Negroni is often confused with the Americano, which uses soda water instead of gin. A Boulevardier is another close relative: it replaces gin with whiskey.