Drinks Cocktails Gin Cocktails Spiced Negroni 5.0 (2) 1 Review Cinnamon and star anise add spiced flair to a classic Negroni cocktail. By Lucy Simon Lucy Simon Lucy Simon is a New York-based wine, spirits, and food writer has been with Food & Wine since the spring of 2021. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 23, 2024 Tested by Jasmine Smith Tested by Jasmine Smith Jasmine Smith is a recipe developer and tester at Dotdash Meredith Corporation. In addition to her work in test kitchens, Jasmine is a freelance culinary producer for a variety of food festivals. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Prep Time: 12 hrs Total Time: 12 hrs 5 mins Yield: 1 drink Jump to recipe The Spiced Negroni is a bittersweet cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin infused with cinnamon, star anise, and clove. The drink is served with an orange slice dusted with cinnamon powder to reinforce the citrusy and spiced notes within the cocktail. Developed by bartender and cocktail content creator Kaitlyn Stewart, the Spiced Negroni is a warming riff on the Negroni, a classic Italian cocktail, that is perfect for cooler months. By infusing gin with three kinds of whole spices, Stewart creates layers of savory, earthy flavor in this drink. Since the gin only infuses for 12 hours, the spiced flavors aren’t too overpowering; for a less-intense flavor, decrease the infusion time to taste. While the bitter Campari is balanced with the sweetness of the vermouth, adding an ounce or two of sparkling wine to this cocktail can help balance out the more intense flavors and lighten up the drink. As in a Negroni Sbagliato, Prosecco softens a Negroni, and the citrusy notes in the wine play off the Campari. Commit These 7 Equal-Parts Cocktails to Memory and Impress Your Friends What makes the Spiced Negroni work? The Negroni is a classic three-ingredient cocktail in which each component is mixed in equal parts. Stewart’s Spiced Negroni maintains the ratios of a classic Negroni, but adds extra flavor through spice-infused gin. A garnish of an orange slice dusted with cinnamon doubles down on the notes in the cocktail. This cocktail is all about balance. Campari is a bittering agent that brings out the herbaceous flavors in the gin, and the sweet vermouth adds gentle, earthy flavors and a touch of sweetness that softens the other ingredients. The cinnamon, clove, and star anise echo some of the flavors present in the sweet vermouth and the Campari. To batch this drink in advance, and scale it up for a crowd, use 1 cup each of the gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Combine the alcoholic ingredients with 3/4 cups of water before chilling down the cocktail to dilute the drink slightly. The additional water mimics the amount of dilution that would take place if a single cocktail was being stirred over ice before being served. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients Spice-Infused Gin 1 cup gin 1 cinnamon stick 1 whole clove 1 pod star anise Spiced Negroni 1 ounce Spice-Infused Gin 1 ounce sweet vermouth 1 ounce Campari 1 ounce sparkling wine, optional 1 orange slice, for garnish Ground cinnamon, for garnish Directions Make Spice-Infused Gin: Stir together gin, cinnamon stick, clove, and star anise in an airtight container. Let stand at room temperature until gin is infused, about 12 hours. Pour spice-infused gin through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a large pitcher; discard solids. Make the cocktail: Combine Spice-Infused Gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari in a rocks glass filled with ice. Stir to combine and top with sparkling wine, if using. Garnish cocktail with an orange sliced dusted with ground cinnamon. Rate It Print