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A delicious and lighter twist on the Italian classic Negroni cocktail. We add some sparkle to the classic combination of gin, Campari and vermouth rosso by topping with prosecco or soda water. A perfect cocktail whether for a Christmas party, happy hour or sitting poolside.
For another fizzy cocktail try my Pomegranate French 75.
Negronis have gone from a niche drink to making an appearance on every cocktail menu. The combination of bitter and sweet is so distinctive and always interesting.
I’ve chosen to make it my own by taking a classic Negroni base and adding a bit of fizz. This turns a very potent cocktail into a long drink, which means that it is perfect for everything from a holiday party to poolside!
This Negroni Fizz was inspired by a visit to a local restaurant. As much as I enjoyed the Negroni in front of me, I wished that it would last a bit longer and be just a bit more refreshing!
The solution is to use a a fizzy topping to take it from a short drink to a long drink. Soda or tonic water is absolutely perfect for this. But if you want to make it ever more special, try a sparkling wine like Prosecco!
The result is surprisingly refreshing drink, with lots of bubbles of course, but also the sweet and bitter combination of negroni. It hits just right on a hot day!
Making Negroni Fizz
Making a Negroni Fizz is wonderfully easy! Start by mixing the gin, Campari and vermouth rosso with a lot of ice. And I mean a lot of ice. Cocktails need to be cold!
A classic Negroni uses one ounce each of the gin, Campari and vermouth rosso. I reduced this to make it a lighter drink that won’t hit very hard, but you can increase the amounts if you choose.
You can strain the Negroni into a glass after using a This is an affiliate link.cocktail shaker if you really want to. But if you want to save a step (and some dishes) then mix the drink in the glass you intend to drink it from.
Next top it will a good helping of tonic water or sparkling wine. You are in charge here. Make the drink as long or short as you like!
Recipe Tips and Notes
- The classic Italian cocktail uses equal parts gin, Campari and vermouth rosso. That doesn’t mean we need to stick with this formula. This is especially true if you don’t like the bitterness of Campari, which can be a bit much for some people. Adjust till it works for your taste! A quarter ounce Campari makes for a less intense drink.
- Another twist on this drink is based on a boulevardier, which is similar but replaces the gin with bourbon or other whiskey.
- Adding prosecco makes the drink less alcohol-intense than the normal drink, but to thin it out even more, replace it with tonic water or soda water.
- Use plenty ice when it’s time to serve to fully chill the drink. Adding the glasses to the freezer for a few minutes beforehand is a great way to keep the drink colder for longer.
- Don’t have a cocktail shaker? No matter. This is a cocktail that doesn’t need one. Just stir in a large mixing glass with the ice.
Serving suggestions
A garnish is never necessary but always appreciated. Try folding a thinly sliced piece of orange or orange peel over a toothpick to achieve the same look as me. Or place a slice in a piece of orange and slide it onto the rim of your glass.
The recipe below is for one Negroni Fizz, but you can easily scale this up to make it for more people. Combine the ingredients in a jug and keep in the fridge until ready to serve, then add ice and prosecco.
More great cocktails
Negroni Fizz
Ingredients
- 1/3oz / 10ml Campari
- 1/3oz / 10ml gin
- 1/3oz / 10ml vermouth rosso
- ice
- prosecco, or soda water
- orange slices
Instructions
- Combine Campari, gin and sweet vermouth in tall glass with ice cubes. Stir to combine and chill the ingredients.
- Top with soda water, or Prosecco for extra luxury. Serve with an orange slice as a garnish.
Notes
- The classic Negroni uses equal parts gin, Campari and vermouth rosso, but we don’t need to stick with this formula. This is especially true if you don’t like the bitterness of Campari. A quarter ounce Campari makes for a less intense drink. Adjust till it works for your taste!
- Or adjust the base spirit. Using whiskey instead of gin makes this a Boulevardier Spritz!
- This long drink is less alcohol-intense than classic Negroni because it adds prosecco, but if you want to thin it out even more, try tonic water or soda water.
- Make it cold! Use plenty of ice and, if you have the time, add the glasses to the freezer for a few minutes beforehand.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
how did you make the garnish? love it!
Thanks, Barbara! It’s very easy actually. Slice an orange, then cut a slit halfway into the slice, twist and skewer on a cocktail stick.
I’m going to try this. I’ve recently been converted to gin and so far I’m enjoying it. (The Laverstocke is my current favourite cocktail).
Is the recipe corre t tho with only 1/3 oz of fizz? That doesn’t seem very much. It’s only 2 tsp worth!!!!
You are absolutely right, Katheleen. The measurement was wrong, it should be blank as the directions simply tell you to top your glass with it.
That’s my favorite drink! I’ve been making it every summer for years but never knew what to call it. Sometimes I skip the gin. I love the fizz, the bitter notes and the tang of orange. It’s very moody, but refreshing…a bit like a good cry.
I think blogging is a great avenue to unique friendships. It’s inspiring that you are making real-world as well as on-line connections.
Cheers!
It’s such a lovely drink and not too strong, so perfect for summer days! 🙂
a squirt of lime juice is a welcome addition too. But seriously, 1/3 of an ounce of each? go big or go home girl!
Hahaha I see your point, Sharon. I did want it to be a lighter summer version of Negroni, so you can have multiples! 😉
We certainly did ‘meet cute’ at Food Blogger Connect : )
I must admit to feeling the same isolation – both in blogging and in the real life – I find it very hard to make friends and meeting you was the highlight of FBC. Every time we chat I feel inspired to keep going with the blog even though it really is hard when you can only devote snippets of your time and energy into it.
And we must have some sort of psychic connection because all I have been able to think is ‘Negroni!’ and red vermouth is top of my shopping list. Your Negroni fizz looks so festive – the perfect winter cocktail.
So lets put that joint blogpost into action – I will send you some ideas…
Yes, we are definitely doing it before Christmas, Lucy!!
I love the glass you serve your Negroni Fizz in 🙂
Yes, blog friendships rock. I’ve been lucky to meet so many of my fellow bloggers over the years (I began in 2005, while still living in Scotland), and can call quite a few of them good friends.
Thanks for the list at the end – I knew Natasha’s Kitchen and Mom’s Dish, but the others are new to me. Off to check out Lucy’s blog now and then the others.
Greetings from Estonia 🙂
Hello Pille and thank you for stopping by!! I love my new glasses too, even water tastes better in them. 🙂
Cheers! What a lovely drink. And thanks for including me as a virtual friend. Maybe someday we can actually share a drink!
I hope we will, Jennifer! We are spending Christmas in Canada but too far away from you. Any plans to visit England?
Your fizz is so, so pretty. Love the color! Thank you for the link love! xo
Thank you, Laura! 🙂