Oaxacan Negroni recipe

Name: Oaxacan Negroni
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 cocktail
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 1 oz Mezcal; 1 oz Campari; 1 oz Sweet Vermouth; 2 dashes Orange Bitters

A smoky, bitter Negroni-style mezcal cocktail with sweet vermouth and Campari.

Method: Stir · Glass: Rocks glass · Time: 3 min · Difficulty: Beginner · Family: The Old Fashioned Family

Ingredients

1 oz Mezcal
1 oz Campari
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
2 dashes Orange Bitters

How to make a Oaxacan Negroni

Add mezcal, Campari, sweet vermouth and orange bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
Stir until chilled and evenly diluted.
Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.
Express a grapefruit peel over the surface.
Place the peel in the glass and serve.

Garnish

Expressed grapefruit peel.

Pro tip

Use a vegetal, savory mezcal rather than the smokiest bottle you can find. Campari already brings intensity, so balance matters more than maximum smoke.

History of the Oaxacan Negroni

The Oaxacan Negroni applies the equal-parts Negroni structure to mezcal. Published versions pair mezcal with Campari and sweet vermouth, often finished with citrus.

Flavour profile

Bitter, Smoky, Herbal, Citrus

Variations

Oaxacan Old Fashioned — Reposado tequila and mezcal make the benchmark split-base build
All-Mezcal Oaxacan Old Fashioned — Use mezcal as the full base for a drier smoky version
Ancho Old Fashioned — Add ancho chile liqueur for peppery warmth
Oaxacan Negroni — Move into a bitter equal-parts mezcal Negroni

Practise making the Oaxacan Negroni in the free Virtual Bar game.