The Negroni is one of the simplest drinks you can make: three ingredients in equal parts. That simple shape is why it has so many cousins. Here are the classic and two twists, from deep ruby to pale and golden.

The classic: deep ruby

Equal parts gin, a red bitter aperitif such as Campari, and sweet vermouth. It is bitter, orange-scented and a little sweet, and it tastes better the more slowly you drink it.

  1. Pour 30 ml of each ingredient into a mixing glass with plenty of ice.
  2. Stir for about 30 seconds, until the glass is very cold.
  3. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass.
  4. Squeeze a strip of orange peel over the top and drop it in.

Twist one: the soft, pale one

If the classic is too bitter for you, this is the gentle way in. Aperol is lighter, sweeter and less bitter than Campari, and a pale vermouth (blanc or rosé) keeps the colour soft.

  • Make it: 30 ml gin, 30 ml Aperol, 30 ml blanc or rosé vermouth. Stir, strain over a large cube, finish with orange peel.
  • Good with: salted crisps, olives, or a plate of cured meats at the start of an evening.

Twist two: the White Negroni, golden

This one drops the red entirely. Gin stays, but Suze (a bitter French gentian liqueur, yellow and earthy) replaces the Campari, and Lillet Blanc replaces the vermouth. It is floral, bittersweet and dry.

  • Make it: 45 ml gin, 30 ml Suze, 30 ml Lillet Blanc. Stir well, strain over a large cube, finish with a lemon or orange peel.
  • Good with: goat cheese, nuts, or anything fresh and salty.

A bonus: the Boulevardier

Swap the gin in the classic for bourbon and you have a Boulevardier. It is warmer, rounder and a good Negroni for cold nights.

Three small tips

  • Use one big, clear cube. It melts slowly, so the drink stays strong and cold without turning watery.
  • Stir, do not shake. These are all spirits, and shaking makes them cloudy.
  • Taste as you go. Brands differ, and a few millilitres more or less of the bitter part is a matter of taste.

Recipes are common house versions, and exact brands change the taste. Please drink responsibly: make one good drink rather than three quick ones.