Homemade Negroni recipe

If you've ever had a classic Negroni and thought, "what if this had more personality?" then you need to try a Kingston Negroni. This rum based twist on the original is one of those drinks that just stops you mid sip. I remember the first time Donald mixed one up on a Friday evening. He'd been reading about it online and came home with a bottle of Smith & Cross Jamaican rum. One sip and I looked at him and said, "Where has this been all my life?"

Jump to:

• Why You Will Love This Kingston Negroni Recipe
• Ingredients for Your Kingston Negroni
• How to Make a Kingston Negroni Step by Step
• Storage and Reheating Tips
• Fun Variations on the Kingston Negroni
• Frequently Asked Questions About the Kingston Negroni
• Recipes You May Like
• This Kingston Negroni Is Worth Making Tonight
• Kingston Negroni Recipe With Jamaican Rum

The Kingston Negroni swaps out the usual gin for a funky, overproof Jamaican rum. And honestly? It changes everything. The result is bold, a little tropical, and still has that beautiful bittersweet backbone that makes the original Negroni so good. It's the kind of cocktail that feels fancy but takes about two minutes to put together.

This drink was first created back in 2009 by bartender Joaquin Simo at Death & Co. in New York City. As a Manhattan mom, I love that this cocktail has local roots. Simo simply swapped rum for gin in a classic Negroni, and the rest is history. Sometimes the simplest ideas turn out to be the best ones, right?

If you love rum cocktails, you might also enjoy our Fireball Sangria With Apple and Orange Bliss. It's another crowd pleaser that comes together fast.

Why You Will Love This Kingston Negroni Recipe

• Only three ingredients. That's it. Rum, Campari, and sweet vermouth. No special syrups or tools needed.
• Ready in under 5 minutes. From grabbing the bottles to taking your first sip, this cocktail is lightning fast.
• Big, bold taste. The Jamaican rum brings a funky, slightly tropical quality that makes this way more interesting than a standard cocktail.
• Great for date nights or grown up hangs. Donald and I make these when we finally get the kids to bed and want something special.
• Easy to customize. You can tweak the ratios or try different rums and vermouths to make it your own.
• Impressive without the effort. Serve this to friends and they'll think you took a mixology class.

Ingredients for Your Kingston Negroni

Here's what you'll need to make this Kingston Negroni at home. It really is just three things plus a garnish.

• 1 ounce Smith & Cross Jamaican rum (overproof and funky, this is the star)
• 1 ounce Campari (the classic Italian bitter liqueur)
• 1 ounce Carpano Antica sweet vermouth (rich with notes of chocolate and orange)
• Orange peel for garnish

A note on the rum: Smith & Cross is the traditional choice here and it's what makes this drink special. It's a pot still, overproof Jamaican rum with a strong character. If you can't find it, look for another funky Jamaican rum, but I'd really recommend tracking down Smith & Cross for the full experience.

A note on the vermouth: Carpano Antica is a bold vermouth with deep vanilla and bitter orange notes. It works perfectly here because the strong rum can stand up to it. In a regular Negroni, Antica can sometimes overpower, but in this version the rum matches it sip for sip.

How to Make a Kingston Negroni Step by Step

This cocktail is stirred, not shaken. That's important because stirring keeps it silky and clear. Shaking would make it cloudy and foamy, which isn't what you want here.

Combine Your Ingredients

Pour 1 ounce of Smith & Cross Jamaican rum, 1 ounce of Campari, and 1 ounce of Carpano Antica sweet vermouth into a mixing glass. If you don't have a mixing glass, a large regular glass or even a mason jar works fine. I've done it plenty of times.

Stir With Ice

Add a generous handful of ice to the mixing glass and stir for about 20 to 30 seconds. You want the drink well chilled and slightly diluted. The dilution actually helps open up all those bold tastes and makes everything come together nicely.

Strain and Serve

Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass over one large ice cube. A big cube melts slower, so your drink stays cold without getting watery too fast. If you don't have large ice cube molds, regular ice works too. You'll just want to drink it a bit quicker.

Garnish With Orange Peel

Take a long strip of orange peel and give it a good twist over the glass. This releases the oils and adds a beautiful citrus aroma. Drop it right into the drink or rest it on the rim. This step makes more of a difference than you'd think.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Cocktails are best made fresh, but here's what I've learned from experience.

You can pre batch the Kingston Negroni by combining equal parts rum, Campari, and sweet vermouth in a sealed bottle or jar. Store it in the fridge for up to one week. When you're ready to serve, just pour it over ice and stir for a few seconds to chill.

Once you add ice and dilution, drink it within 20 to 30 minutes. The ice will melt and water things down if you wait too long.

Keep your sweet vermouth refrigerated after opening. This is a tip a lot of people miss. Vermouth is a wine based product, so it goes bad faster than spirits. An open bottle of Carpano Antica will keep about 4 to 6 weeks in the fridge.

Fun Variations on the Kingston Negroni

The beauty of this cocktail is how easy it is to make it your own. Here are some twists I've tried at home.

• Try a different rum. If Smith & Cross is too intense for you, Appleton Estate 12 Year gives a smoother, more mellow version. It won't be as funky, but it's still really good.
• Adjust the ratios. Not a huge fan of bitter drinks? Try using 1 ounce of rum, ¾ ounce of Campari, and 1 ounce of vermouth. That extra little bit of sweetness can help if you're new to Negronis.
• Add a splash of oloroso sherry. This one blew my mind. Just a quarter ounce of dry oloroso sherry adds a nutty quality that Donald says reminds him of a cocktail bar in the East Village.
• Swap the bitter. Instead of Campari, try Cappelletti or Gran Classico for a slightly different bittersweet character.
• Make it a Kingston Sbagliato. Replace the rum with sparkling wine for a lighter, bubbly version. Perfect for brunch when the kids are at a playdate.

Have you ever tried building your own Negroni riff? It's honestly one of the most fun things you can do behind a home bar.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Kingston Negroni

What Is a Kingston Negroni and How Is It Different From a Classic Negroni?

A Kingston Negroni follows the same equal parts structure as a traditional Negroni, but it uses Jamaican rum instead of gin. The gin in a regular Negroni brings herbal and botanical notes. The rum brings something completely different, like tropical fruit, baking spices, and a funky richness that's hard to describe until you taste it. I always tell friends it's like the Negroni's adventurous cousin who just got back from vacation in Jamaica.

What Type of Rum Is Best for Making a Kingston Negroni?

Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaica Rum is the go to for this cocktail. It's an overproof pot still rum with a big, bold character that stands up to the Campari and vermouth. I've tried this with lighter rums and it just doesn't hit the same way. The whole point of the Kingston Negroni is that funky Jamaican rum quality, so you want a rum that brings serious personality to the glass.

Can You Substitute Another Sweet Vermouth in a Kingston Negroni?

You can, but I'd really recommend starting with Carpano Antica. Its rich, slightly bitter orange and chocolate notes pair perfectly with the overproof rum. I tried it once with Dolin Rouge, which is a softer vermouth, and the drink felt a little flat. The rum is so powerful that it needs a vermouth with enough body to keep up. If you can't find Carpano Antica, Cocchi di Torino is a nice second choice.

How Do You Properly Garnish a Kingston Negroni Cocktail?

The classic garnish is a long strip of orange peel, expressed over the drink. To do this, hold the peel over the glass with the outer side facing down and give it a firm twist or squeeze. You'll see a little mist of citrus oil spray over the surface. Then just drop it in or drape it over the rim. The orange oils add a fresh citrus scent that ties the whole drink together. I've also seen people use a half moon of orange, which looks really pretty if you're serving these for company.

Recipes You May Like

• Salted Caramel White Russian Cocktail A creamy, dessert style cocktail that's perfect for after dinner sipping.
• Rich Fireball Eggnog for Cozy Celebrations Warm, spiced, and perfect for holiday gatherings with friends and family.
• Creamy Jack Frost Cocktail for a Tropical Escape A fun blue cocktail that tastes like a tropical vacation in a glass.

This Kingston Negroni Is Worth Making Tonight

So there you have it. Three ingredients, two minutes, and one seriously impressive cocktail. The Kingston Negroni has become our go to Friday night drink whenever Donald and I get a quiet moment after the kids go to sleep. There's something about that funky Jamaican rum mixed with the bitter Campari and rich vermouth that just feels like a treat.

I love that it's simple enough to make on any weeknight but special enough to serve when friends come over. Plus, it's a great conversation starter because most people haven't heard of it yet.

Give it a try this weekend and let me know how it turns out for you! And don't forget to save this recipe to Pinterest so you can find it next time cocktail hour rolls around.

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