Negroni - recipes and vermouth recommendations

[oddman]

As cocktail hour is approaching, a few questions for the cognoscenti.

My Negroni recipe is

1 Measure Gin
2 Measures Antica Formula
1 Measure Campari

Stirred and ice left in. Dash of orange bitters and an orange twist.

I use the whatever is on offer for a litre as far is gin is concerned. My favourite (Tanqueray Export) is a bit of a bully in a Negroni and seems to me to pay for good vermouth and let that dominate.

However at near on £30 a litre, Antica Formula is an expensive habit - any alternatives worth trying?

Edited by oddman on Friday 5th March 17:14

[anonymous-user]

Never used expensive vermouth mate and have found Beefeater is best for cocktails enhanced greatly by the people you share your 'nicer' drinks with

[vaud]

I quite like Roku Gin or Portabello Road, quite often come up on offer around £25/bottle.

If going cheaper then Co-Op London dry gin is quite light.

[Scabutz]

I use Nolly Prat but I generally only drink martinis so use a tiny amount that I can barely taste it.

In your Negroni it has a significant amount so probably worth spending more.

For gin I like Tanquery No.10

[Bill]

I'm a peasant...

But Plymouth is a nice unobtrusive gin, or Sipsmith.

Then Aperol (I know, hate me!)

And Martini Fiero , as Rosso is a bit sickly imo.

Like I say, a peasant...

[Louis Balfour]

oddman said:

As cocktail hour is approaching, a few questions for the cognoscenti.

My Negroni recipe is

1 Measure Gin
2 Measures Antica Formula
1 Measure Campari

Stirred and ice left in. Dash of orange bitters and an orange twist.

I use the whatever is on offer for a litre as far is gin is concerned. My favourite (Tanqueray Export) is a bit of a bully in a Negroni and seems to me to pay for good vermouth and let that dominate.

However at near on £30 a litre, Antica Formula is an expensive habit - any alternatives worth trying?

Edited by oddman on Friday 5th March 17:14

I have never had a problem with Martini Rosso, I don't measure anything either, it's an approximate 1/3 of each. If I am tempted to reduce any ingredient it is the vermouth.

Having had Negroni all over Italy they are remarkably similar everywhere. I think that is because the Campari is quite dominant.

[Ultuous]

Gin (something fairly 'neutral' - Aldi's own works for me), Campari, Cinzano 1757, 1:1:1, slice of orange, big cube of ice stirred and left in, job done!

As above, absolutely nothing wrong with Martini either, but the 1757 is a lot more 'special' to me (a lot deeper and more 'figgy' - knocks the socks off the standard Cinzano and seems to keep a lot longer too - it's like it matures rather than goes oily/ sour!)

[Louis Balfour]

Ultuous said:

Gin (something fairly 'neutral' - Aldi's own works for me), Campari, Cinzano 1757, 1:1:1, slice of orange, big cube of ice stirred and left in, job done!

As above, absolutely nothing wrong with Martini either, but the 1757 is a lot more 'special' to me (a lot deeper and more 'figgy' - knocks the socks off the standard Cinzano and seems to keep a lot longer too - it's like it matures rather than goes oily/ sour!)

I haven't tried 1757 but will do.

[bigdom]

oddman said:

However at near on £30 a litre, Antica Formula is an expensive habit - any alternatives worth trying?

Edited by oddman on Friday 5th March 17:14

This is worth a try - https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/29852/martini-...

[redrabbit]

mgsontour said:

Never used expensive vermouth mate and have found Beefeater is best for cocktails enhanced greatly by the people you share your 'nicer' drinks with

Totally agree on Beefeater for most cocktails, even Martinis. Have tried dozens of 'premium' brands but the only one I'll pay for now is Adnam's Copper House... Lovely vanilla twist. However... Found myself buying the Co-op 'taste the loveliness' 5 times distilled gin last week, also very nice at £16. Hints of nutmeg that cut through nicely.

For Negroni... Beefeater, Campari, and crucially. Cocchi Di Torino vermouth (waitrose) in equal measures. The Vermouth is the key, totally crushes it. Slice of orange, remember.

ETA, yes, leave a large ice cube in. Needs large tumbler.

[Gribs]

Equal measures of Tanqueray export (preferably the proper 47% one), Campari, and Cocchi Di Torino served with a slice of orange and a large ice ball.

[redrabbit]

Gribs said:

Equal measures of Tanqueray export (preferably the proper 47% one), Campari, and Cocchi Di Torino served with a slice of orange and a large ice ball.

What he said. Nailed it

[shirt]

bigdom said:

oddman said:

However at near on £30 a litre, Antica Formula is an expensive habit - any alternatives worth trying?

Edited by oddman on Friday 5th March 17:14

No cheaper, but Antico can only be bettered by this imo, aged in balsamic casks.

https://giusti.it/en/prodotto/vermouth-giusti-750m...

[anonymous-user]

redrabbit said:

Totally agree on Beefeater for most cocktails, even Martinis. Have tried dozens of 'premium' brands but the only one I'll pay for now is Adnam's Copper House... Lovely vanilla twist. However... Found myself buying the Co-op 'taste the loveliness' 5 times distilled gin last week, also very nice at £16. Hints of nutmeg that cut through nicely.

For Negroni... Beefeater, Campari, and crucially. Cocchi Di Torino vermouth (waitrose) in equal measures. The Vermouth is the key, totally crushes it. Slice of orange, remember.

ETA, yes, leave a large ice cube in. Needs large tumbler.

Buy yourself a new Yorkshire pudding tray, they make great 'large' cubes

[oddman]

Thanks All

Have tried all the suggestions for vermouth (Cocchi v. good. Posh Cinzano products - better than Rosso for sure). Good though they are, Antica is a cut above. Only suggestion I haven't tried is this one

shirt said:

No cheaper, but Antico can only be bettered by this imo, aged in balsamic casks.

https://giusti.it/en/prodotto/vermouth-giusti-750m...

Typical PH - ask for advice on good cheaper vermouth - will end up spending more on vermouth

[595Heaven]

Lillet vermouth is my favourite in a Martini.

Find it in the drinks aisle, not the sanitary products aisle...

[shirt]

oddman said:

Thanks All

Have tried all the suggestions for vermouth (Cocchi v. good. Posh Cinzano products - better than Rosso for sure). Good though they are, Antica is a cut above. Only suggestion I haven't tried is this one

shirt said:

No cheaper, but Antico can only be bettered by this imo, aged in balsamic casks.

https://giusti.it/en/prodotto/vermouth-giusti-750m...

Typical PH - ask for advice on good cheaper vermouth - will end up spending more on vermouth

Not sure if it’s worth using in a Negroni tbh as the Campari overpowers it, but makes an amazing Manhattan / rob roy.

The rubino above is the opposite, ruins a Manhattan for me as the herbs are too overpowering, plain old martini is better IMO

[uncinqsix]

Never tried the Cocchi or the Antica as it's quite spendy here and I'd want to be sure that I'd use it quickly enough. I tend to use Dolin Rouge, which works well in a Negroni.

[Blown2CV]

i've been experimenting with different vermouths too. My major recommendation though would be Jaffa cake gin... it is seriously incredible in a Negroni

[knk]

1:1:1
Plymouth Gin
Cocchi vermouth di Torino
Campari

Or my white Negroni
Plymouth
Luxardo bitter Bianco
Noilly prat