The snowy Negroni keeps the balanced bitter and sweet flavors of the classic cocktail, but gives it a chic, crystal-clear holiday makeover.
When you need a cocktail to offset all the sweets of the holiday season, the subtle and delicate bittersweetness of a snowy Negroni will have both of the turtledoves (and most of the French hens) cooing in delight. This clear-colored Negroni has all the elements of the deep red classic Negroni, but takes some cues from our original white Negroni recipe (which is actually yellowish from the addition of Suze). Our snowy Negroni offers a lighter, more aromatic flavor without any hue.
Because it’s colorless, you can go nuts when garnishing this sipper to match whatever theme or color scheme you have planned for your holiday get-together. Snowgronis—as we playfully like to call them—are class in a glass, and with just three ingredients in equal parts, they’ll be tasty every time. Serve them over big ice cubes, and these holiday cocktails might be just the present you were hoping for.
Snowy Negroni Ingredients
- Gin: The best gin for a Negroni is London dry gin, which keeps the drink crisp and botanical. It’s central spirit of this cocktail, so choose one with a crisp, bright profile.
- Cocchi Americano: This is a wine-based aperitif that blends Moscato grapes with herbs and spices. Cocchi Americano brings light citrus, floral notes and a gentle bitterness that replaces the deeper bite of red Campari that you’d find in a classic Negroni. It keeps the drink clear while providing the balance that a Negroni often has.
- Dry vermouth: Dry vermouth adds herbal complexity and a whisper of savory depth. You can substitute Lillet Blanc for a slightly sweeter and more aromatic version.
- Large ice cube: One oversized cube chills the drink slowly without watering it down too fast. It also adds the perfect look for a snowy, crystalline presentation.
- Cranberries and rosemary: Fresh cranberries and a rosemary sprig are wintry, festive garnishes that don’t add extra sweetness. They also make the drink look like it just walked off a holiday cocktail runway.
- Sparkly sugar or candy cane dust (optional): A light rim of sparkly sugar or crushed candy cane gives the glass a frosted effect. Use them sparingly so they don’t oversweeten the cocktail.
Directions
Step 1: Chill your mixing glass
Fill a mixing glass with ice.
Step 2: Add the spirits
Add the gin, Cocchi Americano and dry vermouth to the mixing glass.
Step 3: Stir until it’s chilly
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Stir until the cocktail is chilled and slightly diluted, about 15 seconds.
Step 4: Strain and serve the cocktail
Place a large ice cube in a rocks glass and pour the cocktail over the ice.
Editor’s Tip: Flexible plastic ice cube trays make it easy to create perfect squares and large circular ice orbs.