Valentine’s Day is a few days away, so I thought I would share my new love with you, the Mezcal Negroni. Oh, how I love this cocktail.

 

Mezcal Negroni by Diverse Dinners

 

This somewhat sexy cocktail is my current drink of choice. It’s a combination of Mezcal, of course, with sweet vermouth and Campari. Its complex and smoky, sweet and sour flavors, is how I see myself. At first sight, clearly distinctive. Can be both sweet in nature but also quite sharp, but underneath it all is that inherited strength needed to carry this persona. That’s me folks! 🙂

A traditional Negroni is made with gin and is wonderfully tasty, but I am so into smoky drinks right now, and swapping out the Gin for Mezcal puts me in my happy place.

I didn’t come about this drink myself, I had my first Mezcal Negroni at La Diagonal, in Harlem. A Mexican restaurant that creates some truly awesome cocktails, and tasty bites to keep you on your feet.

Mezcal Negronis are not for “lightweights” a few of these babies might knock you on your derriere. For this reason, I aways serve them on the rocks, but they can be served straight up.

A Mezcal Negroni is not complete to me without orange. A dried slice or just the peel is very necessary. It adds another layer of flavor that tops off this cocktail. For my next post, I will share my sweetened dried blood orange slices recipe with you. They’re super easy to make, all you need is a few ingredients and time.

 

Mezcal Negroni by Diverse Dinners

 

If you enjoy complex flavored cocktails, and in particular, smoky cocktails, I suggest you give the Mezcal Negroni a try. It’s delicious. Me and cousin Tracy are new converts and if you enjoy a Mezcal cocktail it is likely you will be too.

Remember, drinks responsibly.

 

Print Recipe

Mezcal Negroni

Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Mezcal
  • 1/4 cup Campari
  • 3/4 cup Sweet Vermouth
  • Ice
  • 1 small orange or dried orange slices

Equipment & Utensils

  • Cocktail pitcher and stirrer
  • A cocktail strainer if serving straight up
  • 2 short tumbler glasses on the rocks or 2 saucer martini glasses (straight up)

Instructions

On The Rocks:

  • Set aside dried orange slices, or peel away two strips of orange peel from an orange and set aside.
  • Pour Mezcal, Campari and Vermouth into pitcher and stir vigorously.
  • Fill glasses with ice, then pour cocktail mixture over ice.
  • Push a dried orange slice or a strip of orange peel down one side of each cocktail and serve immediately.

    Straight Up:

    • Set aside dried orange slices, or peel away two strips of orange peel from an orange and set aside.
    • Fill pitcher halfway with ice.
    • Add Mezcal, Campari and Vermouth and stir vigorously until cocktail is completely chilled.
    • Using cocktail strainer fill martini glasses.
    • Top each cocktail with a dried orange slice or a strip of orange peel and serve immediately.