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Garden Negroni Recipe

Garden Negroni Recipe

By What’s Baking

A verdant twist on the classic Negroni with herbaceous notes of cucumber, basil, and garden herbs that transform this bitter-sweet aperitif into a refreshing botanical experience.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
Serves:
1 cocktail
An elegant lowball glass with a large crystal-clear ice cube sits on a weathered wooden table in natural daylight. The Garden Negroni's striking ruby-crimson hue transitions to emerald undertones where cucumber-infused gin meets the Campari. Fresh basil leaves float delicately on the surface, releasing aromatic oils that catch the light. A cucumber ribbon spirals around the glass exterior, while droplets of condensation form on the glass, suggesting refreshing coolness. In the background, slightly blurred herb pots of rosemary and thyme create a garden setting that enhances the drink's botanical concept.

Ingredients

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"><li class="ingredients-single-item">30ml cucumber-infused gin (or quality London Dry gin with 2 cucumber slices muddled)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">30ml sweet vermouth (preferably Carpano Antica Formula)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">30ml Campari</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">5ml rosemary simple syrup</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">2 fresh basil leaves, plus extra for garnish</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 cucumber ribbon for garnish</li></ul>

Equipment

<ul class="equipment-main-list"><li class="equipment-single-item">Mixing glass</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Bar spoon</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Hawthorne strainer</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Jigger</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Vegetable peeler (for cucumber ribbon)</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Rocks glass</li></ul>
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Directions

<ol class="no-list-style"><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4>If using regular gin, gently muddle 2 cucumber slices in the bottom of your mixing glass to release their flavor compounds. If using pre-infused cucumber gin, skip this step.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4>Fill your mixing glass three-quarters with large ice cubes - using quality ice is crucial as it melts slower, providing proper dilution without watering down your cocktail.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4>Add the cucumber gin, sweet vermouth, Campari, and rosemary simple syrup to your mixing glass. The herbal syrup adds a subtle aromatic quality that complements the gin's botanicals without overwhelming them.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4>Tear the basil leaves to release their essential oils and drop them into the mixing glass - tearing rather than cutting prevents bruising and oxidation that can darken the leaves.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4>Stir the mixture gently but thoroughly for about 30 seconds (approximately 40-50 rotations). You're looking for proper dilution and temperature - the outside of the mixing glass should become frosty to the touch.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4>Place a large ice cube in your rocks glass. The single large cube will keep your cocktail cold without excessive dilution as you enjoy it.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4>Use your Hawthorne strainer to pour the cocktail over the ice cube, being careful to strain out any cucumber pieces or torn basil.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4>Garnish with a fresh basil leaf gently placed on top and wrap a thin cucumber ribbon around the inside of the glass, allowing it to spiral attractively. The oils from the basil will continue to release aromatic compounds as you drink.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 9</h4>Serve immediately while the drink is perfectly chilled (ideally around -5°C/23°F). The Garden Negroni should appear glossy with a silky mouthfeel that balances the bitter Campari with refreshing herbal notes.</li></ol>

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

🍽️ Serving Size: 1 cocktail
🔥 Calories: 175 calories
🥑 Fat: 0 g
🧈 Saturated Fat: 0 g
🍞 Carbohydrates: 10 g
🍭 Sugar: 9 g
🍗 Protein: 0 g
🫀 Cholesterol: 0 mg
🧂 Sodium: 5 mg

Chef’s Notes

A few helpful details for making this recipe.

Which gin works best for a botanical cocktail with cucumber notes?

For botanical cocktails featuring cucumber, select gins with complementary profiles like Hendrick's (which already contains cucumber notes), Martin Miller's, or Gin Mare. These premium gins enhance herbaceous cocktails with their balanced botanicals while allowing the cucumber infusion to shine.

How do you make cucumber-infused gin for cocktails?

To make cucumber-infused gin, slice one medium cucumber thinly and add to 750ml of quality London Dry gin. Seal in a glass container and leave at room temperature for 24-48 hours, tasting occasionally until desired flavour is achieved. Strain through fine mesh to remove solids.

Is a Negroni traditionally stirred or shaken?

A Negroni is traditionally stirred, never shaken. Stirring provides proper dilution and temperature without introducing excessive aeration or ice fragments, maintaining the cocktail's silky texture and clear appearance. This principle applies to most spirit-forward cocktails.

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