The Easiest Recipe for a Classic Negroni (with a Kiwi Twist)
The Negroni is one of the world’s most iconic cocktails - strong, bitter, and effortlessly classy. Best of all? It’s incredibly easy to make. Just three equal parts, stirred over ice, and you’ve got yourself a bar-quality drink in under a minute.
Here’s how to make a perfect Negroni at home - plus a Kiwi twist that brings local flavour into the mix.
What You’ll Need
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Gin — We recommend something bold and botanical. Try No8 Distillery Horopito Gin for a uniquely New Zealand flavour, or try any one of these NZ Gins.
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Sweet or Red Vermouth — Look for a rich, herbaceous vermouth like Reid + Reid Red Vermouth or Martini Rosso Vermouth.
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Campari or Bitter Aperitivo — The OG is always Campari, but alternatives like Hastings Distillers L'Opera or Reid + Reid Bitter Aperitivo are excellent.
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Optional Kiwi twist: A slice of Parched Dehydrated Kiwifruit Slices for garnish instead of the usual orange peel.
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Ice
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Orange peel for garnish
How to Make It
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Add 30mls of gin, vermouth, and Campari to a mixing glass filled with ice. Always equal parts, so feel free to do double, triple, or as many shots as you like - just keep them even.
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Stir for about 20–30 seconds, until the drink is ice-cold and nicely diluted. Patience is key here for getting it perfectly smooth.
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Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
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Garnish with a twist of orange peel (or the dehydrated kiwifruit slice!) - if you're sticking to the classic peel then give it a quick squeeze over the drink to release the oils, then drop it in.
Easy Tiger Tip:
Want a smoother, richer drink? Try using a barrel-aged gin, or one infused with native Kiwi botanicals like kawakawa, horopito or Gisborne oranges. It adds a warm, earthy twist to the classic profile - perfect for chilly evenings or impressing your mates.
Make It Yours
This base recipe opens the door to a few fun variations:
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Negroni Sbagliato – Swap the gin for sparkling wine. Yes, that’s the one that went viral.
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Boulevardier – Replace gin with bourbon for a smoky, wintery version (this is Jack's favourite)
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Sweet Negroni – Use Aperol instead of Campari. Lighter, sweeter and floral.
Stock Up to Stir Up
Whether you're restocking your bar cart or trying a Negroni for the first time, we've got all the gear. Check out our full range of spirits, wines and cocktail tools over on our main page.
