This simple Kingston Negroni recipe is just what you need for a cold winter night! Made with Jamaican Rum, sweet Vermouth, and Campari, it's the ideal drink to beat the chill.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 188
Ingredients
- 1 oz Jamaican Rum - preferably navy-strength or overproof
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- Ice cubes
- Orange slice or twist - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Old Fashioned Glass
- Mixing Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Bar spoon or long stirrer
Instructions
- Fill an Old Fashioned or Rocks glass with ice. Give it a quick stir and set it aside.
- Start by pouring 1 oz sweet vermouth into the stirring glass.
- Add 1 oz Campari.
- Finally, add 1 oz Jamaican Rum.
- Fill the mixing glass with ice. Using a bar spoon or a long stirrer, stir well (for about 15-20 seconds). Give it a taste and stir a bit more if you feel like more dilution is necessary.
- Discard the ice in the Old Fashioned glass and refill it with a generous amount of fresh, new ice cubes. Using the cocktail strainer, strain the drink over the ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice or twist (express it on top of the glass and drop it inside the glass for garnish). Serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Jamaican Rum: If you don't have Jamaican Rum, you can use any dark rum as a substitute. It won't have the same unique flavor profile, but it will still work in this cocktail.
- Campari: You can use any type of bitter aperitivo to make this cocktail (such as Select for example, or any other brand of your liking). If you’re looking for something slightly less bitter, Aperol is a good alternative. It's lighter and less bitter but still brings that orange essence.
- Sweet Vermouth: You can use any kind of red vermouth to make this recipe. Lillet Rouge or Cocchi Americano Rosso can be used in a pinch, but keep in mind that it will change the character of the drink.
Making a Pitcher of Kingston Negroni:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 8 oz of Jamaican Rum, 8 oz of Campari, and 8 oz of sweet Vermouth.
- Mix: Combine the Jamaican Rum, Campari, and sweet Vermouth in a large pitcher. Add ice and stir well.
- Serve: Strain to remove the ice, serve immediately into ice-filled rocks glasses and garnish each glass with an orange slice or twist. If you have some leftovers, be sure to keep it in the fridge (make sure no ice cubes are left inside) in an airtight container as vermouth is prone to oxidation when kept at room temperature.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Jamaican Rum Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic dark rum substitute; these are available and reasonably mimic Rum's flavor. If you’re feeling crafty, you can also make your own dark rum substitute by infusing together rooibos tea and a bunch of spices of your liking (vanilla, cinnamon, clove, allspice and banana are always a good way to start). Mix all the ingredients together, add hot water, cover and let it infuse for at least 3h (the stronger the better, so if you have time let it infuse overnight. In that case, you can either let it rest in the fridge once the liquid has cooled down). Give it a taste, adjust the spice level if necessary and strain it once you’re happy with the result. Stored properly (in an airtight container in the fridge), this “tea-rum” can be kept for up to a week.
- Campari Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic aperitif or for bitter soft drinks such as Crodino (prefer the red one) or San Bitter. To give it an additional twist, you can also make a simple syrup infused with orange and grapefruit peels; a drop of this syrup will give your drink an extra touch of both fruitiness and bitterness.
- Sweet Vermouth Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic vermouth (Martini Vibrante for instance). These are usually widely available in liquor stores.
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
Making it Vegan:
The Kingston Negroni cocktail is naturally vegan as it doesn't contain any animal products. Most spirits, including Jamaican rum and Campari, are vegan-friendly. However, some brands may use animal products in their production process, especially if a filtration process is involved. Always check the brand's website or contact them directly to ensure their products are vegan.What is The Kingston Negroni?
A Kingston Negroni is a rum-based cocktail made of Jamaican Rum (generally overproof or navy strength), Campari, and sweet Vermouth. This drink is really easy to make as it only requires the three ingredients to be mixed in equal parts. The Kingston Negroni is a variant of the classic Negroni cocktail, which traditionally uses gin instead of Rum. What makes this version interesting is the use of overproof Jamaican Rum, which gives the cocktail a unique flavor profile with its high proof and funky hogo notes.
What is The Kingston Negroni made of – The ingredients
Get to know how to mix a Kingston Negroni using our simple instructions:
- Jamaican Rum: forms the cocktail’s base, providing a rich and complex flavor profile.
- Campari: An Italian aperitif, it adds bitterness to balance the sweetness of the Rum and Vermouth.
- Sweet Vermouth: This fortified wine brings sweetness and depth to the cocktail, rounding out the flavors.
- Orange Slice or Zest: Used as a garnish, it completes the drink with a nice citrus touch as well as an extra pop of color for visual appeal.
