Christmas Negroni

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Cocktail History

The Christmas Negroni is a Christmas cocktail that was created by the Campari Group and was published on The Mixer, Campari’s beverage recipe blog.

Like the original Negroni, this version features equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, maintaining the balanced, bittersweet profile the template is known for. However, what sets this one apart is the gin’s infusion with a medley of baking spices such as cinnamon, clove, and star anise. This aromatic twist adds layers of warm, seasonal flavors, giving the cocktail a cozy holiday vibe while preserving its sophisticated edge.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Spiced Gin: This is a type of gin made by redistilling a neutral spirit with juniper berries and other botanicals, then infusing it with spices to develop an airy, spiced flavor.

Sweet Vermouth: This is a type of wine made with red grapes and a blend of herbs and botanicals, which are fermented and then fortified with a neutral spirit and sweetened to develop a rich, grape flavor.

Campari: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a blend of gentian root, herbs, spices, and citrus, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bold, bitter orange flavor.

Orange Twist: This is the peel of an orange that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Kaikyō Distillery 135° Hyogo East Dry Gin
• 🔗 Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
• 🔗 Campari

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Mixing Glass: This is a sturdy glass vessel with a wide opening that’s used for stirring cocktails with ice before straining and serving.

Julep Strainer: This is a round metal strainer with a perforated bowl shape and handle that’s used for straining stirred cocktails from a mixing glass while holding back ice and solids.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.

Peeler: This is a handheld kitchen tool with a sharp blade that’s used for removing thin strips of peel from fruits and vegetables.

Ice Mold: This is a tray or container that’s used for creating large or decorative ice shapes that melt more slowly in stirred cocktails.

Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving cocktails with ice or spirits neat.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Julep Strainer
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Piece Peeler Set
• 🔗 BERLINZO Premium Clear Ice Cube Maker Mold
• 🔗 Libbey The Gats Rocks Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Red-ish orange color

• Aroma: Campari and baking spices

• Taste: Bitter, sweet, and herbal Campari

• Finish: Accenting seasonal spices and noticeable Campari bitterness

Kendall’s Take
“Campari has a reputation for being bold, bitter, and a little intense, so you don’t see it on Christmas-themed cocktail menus much. But this version softens those edges beautifully. The baking spices round everything out, bringing warmth and balance to the classic Negroni structure without losing that signature bright red bite. The result is festive, layered, and far more approachable than you might expect, especially during the colder months.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the publication The Mixer by Campari Group.