The Port Negroni is a tasty twist on the classic Negroni cocktail.
It’s sophisticated, but also quick and easy to make!
It only requires three ingredients, plus orange peel for garnish. It tastes refreshing and not overly sweet.
Port Negroni is a great pre-dinner drink and perfect for during the holidays.
Contents
What is Port Negroni?
Port Negroni is a twist on a classic Negroni that uses Tawny Port instead of Vermouth.
The perfect Port Negroni cocktail recipe requires balance: use equal parts Tawny Port, Campari and gin.
The sweet Tawny Port flavors of dried fruit, caramel, chocolate and coffee are balanced out by the dry gin flavors and the intense orange, herbal and bitter flavors of Campari.
I expected this drink to taste sweeter than it does. It doesn’t taste sweet to the palate.
The sweetness of the Port really is balanced out by the alcohol and strong flavors in the other ingredients, especially the Campari.
So, if you are not a fan of sugary cocktails, you may still like Port Negroni.
If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, you can simply increase the amount of Port wine.
A traditional Negroni is stirred, not shaken – build it over ice in an old-fashioned or rocks glass and garnish with a slice of orange.
Orange peel is often used outside of Italy (as in this recipe).
The orange oils add to the aromas and flavors of the recipe, so try to ensure to include the orange zest/peel in this recipe.
Port Negroni ingredients
You will need the following ingredients:
Tawny Port
Port is a fortified wine from Portugal made from a blend of black grapes varieties. There are different styles of Port.
Tawny and Ruby Ports are made in the same way, but they are aged differently which results in wine with different colors and flavors.
Tawny Port is sweet, full-bodied and ranges from tawny (more brown than red) to brown (no redness) in color.
The longer Tawny Port is oxidatively aged (in contact with oxygen), the browner the color will be.
As Tawny Ports age the fruit flavors fade and transform into dried fruit flavors, such as raisins and prunes. Tawny Ports also have notes of walnut, chocolate, coffee and caramel.
There are different styles of Tawny Port that are made and aged in different ways:
Inexpensive Tawny Port
The tawny color is not due to a long period of oxidative ageing.
They are a paler-colored Ruby Port (some have White Port added to adjust the color) with caramel and toffee flavors.
Tawny With Indication of Age
These are higher quality wines that are aged for long periods. The tawny color comes from oxidative ageing.
Colheita/Single Harvest Tawny
Colheitas is a Tawny wine made from a single harvest and are aged for a minimum of seven years.
Campari
Campari is an Italian alcoholic liqueur with herbal, orange and floral aromas.
It has a pleasant bitter flavor with intense orange, herb and wood notes, with a velvety aftertaste.
It is a type of bitters, characterized by its clear, vibrant red color.
Gin
Gin is a distilled spirit that is made from grain and flavored with botanicals. Gin is made with a wide range of herbal ingredients in a number of distinct styles and brands.
After juniper, gin tends to be flavored with herbs, spices, floral or fruit flavors or a combination of all of these.
Gin is a great bar staple that can be used in lots of cocktails and mixed drinks.
How to Make a Port Negroni
Port Negroni cocktails are really easy to make. No cocktail shaker or fancy equipment necessary!
Simply add some ice to a jug, then add the Tawny Port, Campari and gin.
Stir until well chilled and then strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice.
Garnish with orange peel.
The orange oils add to the aromas and flavors of the recipe, so try to ensure to include the orange zest/peel in this recipe.
Squeeze the orange peel over the drink to release the oils.
If you want, you can also run the peel around the edge of the glass. This gives the first sip a refreshing orange aroma.
Looking for more Port wine cocktails?
Here are some other classics to try:
Tawny Port Negroni cocktail recipe
Equipment
- 1 jug or other container for mixing
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Tawny Port 25 ml
- 1 ounce gin 25 ml
- 1 ounce Campari 25 ml
- orange zest/peel
- ice
Instructions
- Add a handful of ice to a jug.
- Pour the Tawny Port, gin and Campari over the ice.
- Stir until well chilled.
- Strain into an old-fashioned glass over some ice.
- Garnish with orange zest/peel.
Read with confidence: I am a certified wine expert (WSET L3).
