Best Negroni Toast Off

Ever wonder which Negroni is best? How different can they be? Is there a non-gin alternative that can blend in with the crowd? Is it better with equal parts or a slightly different ratio? Is it better infused with other ingredients or poured straight from the bottle? To answer these questions, we decided to test 8 recipes, blind, all at the same time, to rank them in order from best to least. And here’s what we found…

Recounting the Tale

There is one fairly unanimous origin story for the Negroni. The Americano cocktail, which is a key component in the creation of the Negroni, consists of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water. The story goes that Count Camillo Negroni frequented Caffè Casoni in Florence, where he asked the bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to modify his Americano by replacing the soda water with gin. This resulted in a stronger, more potent drink that became known as the Negroni. The addition of an orange garnish not only enhanced the flavor but also added a vibrant visual element to the cocktail. Over time, the Negroni gained popularity, becoming a classic cocktail enjoyed by many around the world.

The Toast Off

• 11 tasters
• 8 negroni recipes
• All cocktails were made within minutes of each other to allow for side by side tastings, since cocktails can change dramatically over time (as things like temperature and dilution change)
• All cocktails were stirred with ice and poured neat (with the option to add ice to all 8 cocktails as they sit)
• All cocktails were served in identical glassware and without garnish
• Each taster ranked each cocktail in order from worst to best for overall flavor, with additional tasting notes on each
• All cocktails were measured strictly according to the recipe instructions but omitted any garnish or ice serving instructions as to keep each cocktail as identical in appearance as possible
• For any recipe that did not call for a specific gin or sweet vermouth, we used Bombay and Martini & Rossi or Punt e Mes.

• gin (Bombay, Beefeater)
• navy strength gin (Plymouth)
• genever (Bols-Genever)
• barrel aged gin (Barr Hill)
• Campari
• Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
• sweet vermouth (Martini & Rossi, Carpano Antica Formula, Punt e Mes)
• cacao nib
• strawberry

• IBA: Chosen as the classic standard, providing the baseline for comparison with other variations.
• Stanley Tucci: Selected as a boozier version that gained popularity during the pandemic, known for being shaken rather than stirred.
• Barspoon Coffee Negroni: Picked for its unique coffee-infused variation, adding a rich, espresso flavor to the classic cocktail.
• Educated Barfly: Chosen for its use of barrel-aged gin and Italicus, creating a sweeter, more floral, and oaky twist on the traditional Negroni.
• Punch Drink / Dante: Selected as the winner of a blind taste-off in NYC, this version intrigued us with its balance and sweetness, especially after a previous less-than-stellar espresso martini.
• Imbibe / Bar La Providencia: Chosen for its strawberry and chocolate infusion, offering a less bitter and slightly sweeter take while maintaining the base ingredients and ratio of the IBA.
• Toasty Bird: Selected for its tea-infused variation, offering a balanced but distinctive flavor profile that blends well with the classic elements.
• Bols: Chosen for its use of Genever instead of gin, providing a unique earthy flavor and a different production method and taste compared to traditional gin-based Negronis.

Full Rankings

• With 3 of 11 people placing the IBA recipe in the top spot, that was the hands down favorite and most classic, balanced profile of the bunch which was also among the “least polarizing” drinks of the night
• Generally, as drinks got more expensive, they performed worse, with the exception of the Stanley Tucci version, which is primarily more expensive due to the increased volume of the drink
• The Punch / Dante negroni which placed first in a blind tasting by accredited bartenders in NYC was among the most polarizing, yet again, similar to the espresso martini from Dante we tested in the espresso martini toastoff
• Similarly the strawberry and cacao infused recipe from Bar La Provencia was of the most polarizing place in the top and bottom of several tasters
• The toasty bird version, admittedly, was something that we couldn’t figure out a way to stand out but fall in line, and it showed. Even to us, this cocktail was forgettable and blended in with the crowd.
• And lastly, the Amsterdam based Genever “red light” Negroni was noticeable and in the bottom 3 for all 11 tasters

8. Best for Unique, Challenging Flavors: Bols

Taster Notes: This cocktail has an earthy grape and raki-like flavor with an off-putting butter popcorn smell. It initially smells unpleasant but tastes better, though it worsens over time with a sweet, bitter profile that’s reminiscent of urinal cake.

• 1 ounce Bols genever
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth

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7. Best for Strong Gin Lovers: Toasty Bird

Taster Notes: This cocktail features a strong gin presence with licorice and bitter notes. The flavor is described as balanced yet blends in with others, and it has a smoky quality.

• 0.75 ounce navy strength gin
• 0.5 ounce barrel-aged gin
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce cacao-infused vermouth

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6. Best for Sweet and Fruity Variations: Imbibe / Bar La Providencia

Taster Notes: This version is less bitter with a sweeter profile, featuring strawberry and chocolate notes. It’s balanced but might be seen as trying too hard with its distinct flavors.

• 1 ounce gin (Bombay)
• 1 ounce strawberry-infused Campari
• 1 ounce cacao-infused sweet vermouth

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5. Best for Classic and Balanced Negronis: Punch Drink / Dante

Taster Notes: This cocktail is well-balanced with a full body and a traditional Campari forward flavor. It’s sweet and fruity, though it can become too sweet over time.

• 1 ounce Bombay Sapphire
• 0.75 ounce Martini & Rossi rosso vermouth
• 0.75 ounce Campari

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4. Best for Complex, Floral Flavors: Educated Barfly

Taster Notes: A lighter, more unique take on the Negroni with floral, vanilla, and woodsy notes. It’s smooth and has a caramel and herbal quality, though it may taste like it has been altered.

• 1 ounce barrel-aged gin
• 0.75 ounce Campari
• 0.75 ounce sweet vermouth
• 0.25 ounce Italicus

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3. Best for Coffee Enthusiasts: Barspoon Coffee Negroni

Taster Notes: This variation introduces coffee in a well-balanced mix, with notes of espresso, vanilla, and chocolate. It’s a distinctive take, though it might not fit traditional Negroni expectations.

• 1 ounce gin
• 0.66 ounce Campari
• 0.66 ounce sweet vermouth
• 0.33 ounce Mr. Black cold brew

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2. Best for Classic, Balanced Negronis: Stanley Tucci

Taster Notes: A boozy and smooth Negroni with a balanced flavor. It has a slightly sweet profile and is best enjoyed with ice, though it’s noted for having too much vermouth.

• 2 ounces gin (Bombay)
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth

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1. Best for Classic and Well-Balanced Negronis: IBA

Taster Notes: This classic Negroni is well-balanced and smoother with herbal notes like rosemary and oregano. It has a lighter profile with a slight bitterness and is considered a traditional choice that changes subtly with ice.

• 1 ounce gin (Bombay)
• 1 ounce Campari
• 1 ounce sweet vermouth