Elevate your holiday and Christmas spirit with this Winter Negroni cocktail recipe—a festive twist on the classic cocktail. Combining Campari, gin, and spiced syrup, this recipe is the perfect blend of bitter and aromatic flavors to warm up your holiday season.
Negroni cocktails are amongst my favorite cocktails to sip on. There are so many variations! If love them as much as I do, you’ll definitely want to check out my Negroni Sbagliato, Vodka Negroni, and my White Negroni recipes.
Or, if you’re looking for gift ideas for the gin lover in your life, make sure to check out my Best Gin Gifts post.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s a seasonal twist on the classic Negroni cocktail. A traditional Negroni is a classic Italian cocktail made with equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. For this Christmas-inspired Negroni, the sweet, red vermouth is replaced with chai spiced syrup, which gives the drink a warm, baking spice flavor.
- The bitterness of Campari is well-balanced by the aromatic spices in the syrup and the botanicals in the gin.
- With just three ingredients, this Winter Negroni is simple to mix, yet offers complex flavors.
Ingredient Notes
- Campari: You can find this at most liquor stores. It’s a bitter Italian liqueur with a strong citrus flavor.
- Gin: A London dry gin is a good style of gin for Negronis, but you can use your favorite bottle of gin here.
- Chai spiced syrup: This syrup adds a festive touch, blending seamlessly with the cocktail’s other flavors. It can be a store-bought or homemade version. I have a super simple recipe for a Chai simple syrup made with just three ingredients – brown sugar, water, and Chai tea bags. However, you can also find pre-made Chai simple syrup on Amazon.
- Garnishes: Negronis typically are garnished with an orange peel, and that still works really well. You can also add whole spices that are found in Chai, such as a cinnamon stick or star anise pods. Fresh or dried orange slices are another great garnish option.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Add the Campari and gin to a mixing glass.
Step 2: Add the spiced chai simple syrup and add ice cubes. Stir well with a bar spoon.
Step 3: Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass (or a Negroni glass) filled with ice (preferably a clear ice cube). Garnish with an orange twist and/or festive spices.
Expert Tips
- For a sweeter cocktail, add a bit more chai simple syrup or swap the Campari for Aperol. Aperol is another Italian bittersweet liqueur but is sweeter than Campari. You can learn more about the differences in my post comparing Aperol and Campari. If you are looking for some Aperol cocktails, be sure to check out my Winter Aperol Spritz.
- Add your ice to your mixing glass after you add your ingredients to prevent over-diluting your drink.
FAQ
It’s a versatile cocktail that can be enjoyed year-round. Its bitter and botanical flavors make it a popular choice for summer sipping.
The option to add seasonal syrups or spices, like in this holiday Negroni, the cocktail adapts it well for winter festivities – whether it be sipping on while decorating the Christmas tree, at your next Holiday party, or even to ring in the New Year.
Shaking in a cocktail shaker can over-dilute the cocktail and introduce air bubbles, which disrupts the smooth texture. Stirring allows for better control over dilution and preserves the cocktail’s rich, velvety mouthfeel.
It can serve as both an aperitif and digestif to stimulate the appetite before dinner or to help with digestion afterward.
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📖 Recipe
Winter Spiced Negroni Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce gin
- ½ ounce spiced chai simple syrup (store bought or see notes for homemade version)
- Orange peel and/or whole spices cinnamon sticks, anise pods, etc.
Instructions
- Add the Campari, gin, and syrup to an empty mixing glass.
- Add ice and stir until well chilled.
- Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice cube(s).
- Garnish with an orange peel and/or whole spices, if desired.
Notes
- 1 cup water
- 1 bag Chai tea
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
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Add the water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, turn the heat to low, and add tea bag. Brew according to tea package’s instructions (typically 5 minutes).
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Remove the tea bag and add the brown sugar. Whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved.
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Allow to cool completely and pour into an airtight container. Keep in fridge for up to 3 weeks.
- For a sweeter cocktail, add a bit more chai simple syrup or swap the Campari for Aperol.
- Add your ice to your mixing glass after you add your ingredients to prevent over-diluting your drink.
Nutrition
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Diana
I love this Negroni! It was a nice fall/winter change-up to my usual Negroni.