This white Negroni is guaranteed to put you in a holiday mood! It’s crisp, refreshing, and just the thing to have before a big Christmas meal.
What is a Negroni?
The Negroni is a classic, gin-based cocktail. Rumor has it that it was invented in Italy by Count Camillo Negroni, who asked a bartender friend for an Americano with gin in it instead of soda.
The drink soon took off, and the rest is history.
Negronis are considered an aperitif, meaning that they are supposed to be consumed before dinner to open your appetite.
But This White Negroni is Actually Yellow
“White” Negronis don’t share much in common with a traditional Negroni other than the gin and a hint of bitterness.
Traditional Negronis are deep red because they are made with Campari, an Italian liqueur, and vermouth. Campari is bright red and bitter, and this is where the traditional Negroni gets its beautiful red hue.
White Negronis, on the other hand, are made with Suze, a slightly bitter French aperitif, or with Bonal Gentiane-Quina, another bitter liqueur. Bonal can be tricky to find, so people often substitute it for Cocchi Americano, an Italian aperitif.
Cocchi Americano has a distinct yellow color, which is what makes the White Negroni well…yellow. You can balance out the yellow hue of the Cocchi with some Dolin Blanc vermouth, which will produce an almost clear cocktail.
I ran out of Dolin Blanc, so I chose to take a risk and use both Cocchi and Suze. The resulting cocktail is still beautifully balanced, with a strong hint of the gentian root that is one of the key ingredients in Suze.

Winter White Negroni Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz dry gin (I used The Botanist)
- 1 oz Cocchi Americano
- 0.5 oz Suze
- 1 Rosemary sprig or lemon twist to garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail mixing glass with ice.
- Pour all of the ingredients into the mixing glass and stir with a bar spoon until chilled (30-40 seconds).
- Strain the mixture into a coupe glass and garnish with rosemary or lemon twist.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Here are other fun holiday cocktails:
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