Phony Negroni Recipe

1. Build & Stir

Place a mixing glass or pint glass on your work surface. Add 1 oz gin, 1 oz sweet vermouth, 1 oz Campari, and 2 dashes orange bitters. Fill the mixing glass with plenty of ice (enough to chill and dilute properly). Stir briskly but smoothly with a bar spoon for 20–30 seconds (about 30–40 full rotations) until the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted — the glass should feel very cold and the outside should develop light frost.

2. Prepare Glass

Place a large ice cube (or fill an old-fashioned glass with fresh ice) into the serving glass. If using a large clear cube, it will look classic and melt slowly.

3. Strain

Strain the chilled cocktail from the mixing glass into the prepared serving glass over the ice cube. Use a julep or Hawthorne strainer to keep ice shards out.

4. Express an orange peel over the drink: hold the peel skin-side down about 3–4 inches above the glass and give it a firm squeeze to spray oils across the surface. Rub the peel around the rim, then drop it into the glass or rest it on the ice as garnish.

5. To make a low- or no-alcohol Phony Negroni, substitute the 1 oz gin, 1 oz sweet vermouth, and 1 oz Campari with 1 oz non-alcoholic gin alternative, 1 oz non-alcoholic sweet vermouth-style aperitif, and 1 oz non-alcoholic bitter aperitif. Follow the same build, stir (20–30 seconds), strain, and garnish steps as above.