Gin · Sour · Bittersweet
Negroni Sour Recipe
The Negroni's bittersweet backbone, shaken into a foamy citrus sour. Bittersweet and citrus-bright — the Negroni's bitter-orange backbone shaken into a foamy sour instead of stirred over ice.
- Prep Time
- 2.5 min
- Method
- Shaken
- Glass
- Rocks glass
- Strength
- Balanced
Every recipe on Sipped Right is tested for taste and balance before it's published.
Last updated October 20, 2026
About the Negroni Sour
The Negroni traces to 1919 Florence, where Count Camillo Negroni reportedly asked bartender Fosco Scarselli to strengthen his usual Americano by swapping the soda water for gin — the orange garnish was added to distinguish the new drink from its predecessor. The story is popular but disputed: even the Negroni family has proposed a different ancestor, and no contemporary written record confirms the 1919 date.
The Negroni's defining feature is its 1:1:1 split of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Shift that balance and it becomes a related but different drink — swap the gin for bourbon and it's a Boulevardier, swap the vermouth for Prosecco and it's a Negroni Sbagliato. This Sour keeps the same 1:1:1 backbone but adds lemon, syrup, and egg white for a shaken, citrus-forward format.
Ingredients
- Gin¾ oz
- Campari¾ oz
- Sweet vermouth¾ oz
- Fresh lemon juice1 oz
- Rich simple syrup (2:1)½ oz
- Pasteurized egg white (or Fee Foam)½ oz
Method
- Measure and pour the gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a shaker.
- Add the egg white.
- Add a scoop of ice to the shaker.
- Shake for 15 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail back into the shaker, discarding the ice.
- Dry shake for 15 seconds.
- Fine-strain into a chilled rocks glass.
- Cut a swath of orange peel.
- Express the peel over the drink and drop it in.
Glass & Garnish
Rocks glass, chilled and served up. Garnish with an orange twist, the same bittersweet citrus note that finishes a classic Negroni.
Notes
Batches cleanly ahead of time (gin, Campari, vermouth, lemon, syrup) — hold the egg white until shaking each glass to order. Aquafaba works as a vegan foam substitute. Under-shaking is the common miss — a full 15-second shake is what gives the foam its lasting head. Good alongside something olive-forward or a plate of charcuterie.
Tools Used
Affiliate links
As an Amazon Associate, Sipped Right earns commission from qualifying purchases made via links on this website, at no extra cost to you.
FAQ
- Who invented the Negroni?
- Legend credits Count Camillo Negroni, who in 1919 Florence asked bartender Fosco Scarselli to strengthen his usual Americano with gin instead of soda water. The story is widely repeated but disputed — no contemporary record confirms it.
- What is a Boulevardier?
- A Boulevardier swaps the Negroni's gin for bourbon or rye, keeping the same equal-parts Campari and sweet vermouth — warmer and slightly rounder, without gin's botanical edge.
- Can I make a Negroni Sour without egg white?
- Yes — it becomes a clear, still well-balanced sour without the foam cap.
- Does a Negroni Sour need an orange garnish?
- Not strictly, but the expressed orange oil is part of the drink's aroma, not just decoration.
