Split-Base Negroni recipe

Name: Split-Base Negroni
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 cocktail
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 0.5 oz Mezcal; 0.5 oz London Dry Gin; 1 oz Campari; 1 oz Sweet Vermouth

A Negroni that balances gin's botanicals with a measured half of smoky mezcal.

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

Ingredients

0.5 oz Mezcal
0.5 oz London Dry Gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz Sweet Vermouth

How to make a Split-Base Negroni

Add mezcal, gin, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass with ice.
Stir for 25-30 seconds until chilled and diluted.
Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass.
Express an orange peel over the drink and garnish.

Garnish

Orange peel.

Pro tip

The half-and-half base keeps mezcal from dominating the Campari. Use a juniper-forward gin and a balanced espadín mezcal.

History of the Split-Base Negroni

Split-base Negronis are a modern bartender technique for adding a new spirit's character without losing the original drink's recognizable structure.

Flavour profile

Smoky, Bitter, Botanical, Orange

Variations

Mezcal Negroni — Use mezcal as the full base for more smoke.
Oaxacan Boulevardier — Use Ancho Reyes and vermouth for a chile-rich riff.
Smoky Sbagliato — Use prosecco and a mezcal rinse for bubbles.

Practise making the Split-Base Negroni in the free Virtual Bar game.