If a Negroni is the quintessential Italian cocktail, then a white Negroni is its sunny French cousin. It’s a phenomenal summer drink made with equal parts dry gin, aromatized wine and gentian liqueur. The white Negroni shares all the broody bitterness of the original, and is supported by citrus and a subtle sweetness that teases the palate.
As soon as the temperature hits 68°F, you’ll find us perched on the patio, white Negroni cocktail in hand.
White Negroni Ingredients
- Gin: For a white Negroni, as with most popular gin cocktails, reach for London dry gin.
- Lillet Blanc: This aromaticized French aperitif is blended using white Bordeaux wine, fruit liqueur and various botanicals. It boasts a balanced sweetness with notes of orange, honey, citrus blossoms and spearmint. It’s lovely over ice with a citrus twist, and even better in a white Negroni.
- Suze: Suze is a French gentian liqueur flavored with gentian root and various fruits, herbs and flowers. It boasts an herbaceous, bitter orange and lemon flavor that is absurdly good in cocktails like the white Negroni. If you like Campari and Aperol, you’ll love Suze.
- Lemon twist: The essential oils in the lemon twist add just a whisper of zest to a white Negroni recipe. Mix it up with orange or grapefruit peel garnishes.
Directions
Step 1: Assemble the cocktail
Fill a mixing glass with ice. Add the gin, Lillet Blanc and Suze gentian liqueur. Stir until the cocktail is chilled.
Step 2: Strain and garnish
Strain the cocktail into a chilled rocks glass, then garnish with a lemon twist.
Editor’s Tip: Stick the glass in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before mixing your Negroni for a perfectly chilled glass.
White Negroni Variations
- Use Lillet Rosé: Lillet comes in red, white and rosé versions. With its berry, ruby grapefruit and orange blossom aromas, Lillet’s pink incarnation is spectacular for making rosy-hued Negronis.
- Make a white Negroni sbagliato: The Negroni sbagliato went viral in 2022 and no Negroni lover has been the same since. To make it, use Prosecco instead of gin.
- Try a white Negroni with mezcal: There are almost too many riffs on the Negroni to count. Swapping the gin for mezcal gives the cocktail a beautiful smoky flavor.
Can you make white Negronis ahead of time?
The white Negroni cocktail is an easy, sophisticated tipple you can batch before your guests arrive. Mix the cocktail components in a large container without ice. Store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Batched white Negronis can be stored for two to three weeks.
When it’s time to serve drinks, pour the cocktail into chilled, ice-filled glasses and cap them off with a lemon twist. (The lemon twists should be peeled off the fruit right before garnishing the cocktail so the stunning zesty citrus oils end up in your Negroni rather than the inside of a bowl.)
White Negroni Tips
What type of glassware should you use for a white Negroni?
A chilled rocks glass (aka an old-fashioned or lowball glass) is the perfect cocktail glass for this spirit-forward drink. It can also be served, neat, in a coupe or a Nick and Nora glass.
What is the best gin for white Negronis?
London dry gin’s clean, bright profile is the ideal base for a white Negroni. The best gins for a Negroni double up as excellent picks when mixing white Negronis. Tanqueray, The Botanist, Hendrick’s and Bloom London are a few top picks.
What can you serve with a white Negroni?
The white Negroni’s light, citrusy profile places it firmly in the aperitif camp; this is a cocktail to serve with appetizers and other nibbles before the main meal. Try it with tapas like marinated olives, shrimp tartlets, crostini and bacon-stuffed mushrooms. We like to drink one over a cheese board or charcuterie platter; both are elegant, low-effort options to snack on while sipping white Negronis.
