Pepino’s Negroni Recipe

Cocktail

1. 1

   Prepare glass

   Chill an old-fashioned (rocks) glass by filling it with ice water while you assemble the cocktail ingredients.

2. 2

   Muddle cucumber

   Place the 2 cucumber ribbons in a mixing glass or shaker. Gently muddle 4–6 times: press to release fragrant juices without pulverizing into a pulp. The goal is light cucumber aroma and flavor, not heavy vegetal bitterness.

3. 3

   Combine spirits

   Add the gin, Campari, and sweet red vermouth to the mixing glass over the muddled cucumber. If you prefer a slightly softer, greener Negroni, add the optional 0.25 oz simple syrup.

4. 4

   Stir and chill

   Add plenty of fresh ice to the mixing glass. Stir gently for 20–30 seconds (about 20–30 full strokes) until the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted—this both integrates the cucumber and chills the drink without bruising the spirit flavors.

5. 5

   Prepare serving glass

   Dump the ice water from the chilled old-fashioned glass and add the large ice cubes (or single large cube).

6. 6

   Strain and garnish

   Double-strain the cocktail into the prepared glass to keep small cucumber bits out of the drink. Express the orange peel over the surface to release oils, rim the glass with the peel, then drop it in. Rest the cucumber slice against the ice as an additional garnish.

7. 7

   Serve

   Serve immediately. Sip slowly to appreciate the classic bitter-sweet Negroni profile brightened by cucumber's cooling, vegetal notes.