We Asked 3 Bartenders to Name the Best Gin for a Negroni, and They All Said the Same Thing

The Negroni isn’t just a cocktail. It’s a statement that you understand one of its greatest truths: Sometimes you’ve got to take the bitter with the sweet. Like life, the Negroni strikes that perfect balance; it’s bold and bracing at first, but ultimately smooth and satisfying.

While its flavor profile is rich and complex, crafting a Negroni at home is refreshingly simple. The wildly popular cocktail contains just four ingredients: equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, plus a wide strip of orange peel. (Don’t forget to stash your glass in the freezer prior to imbibing.)

The Best Gin for a Negroni, According to Bartenders

Jason Hedges, director of beverage at Laurent Tourondel Hospitality, leans toward a traditional London Dry gin. “They have a traditional juniper-forward profile that pairs exceptionally well with the bitter notes of Campari and sweetness of vermouth,” he notes.