Smoked Negroni Recipe: Herb-Forward & Aromatic
The Negroni is a cocktail built on bitterness, sweetness, and spirit balanced in perfect harmony. When you smoke a Negroni, you introduce an added layer of aroma and depth, enhancing the cocktail without overshadowing its balance.
In this guide, we’ll walk through our favourite smoked Negroni recipe, explaining why we use a 1.5 / 0.75 / 0.75 ratio. We will show you how to smoke your cocktail using a home bar smoking board and add a finishing touch with fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme.
At Spirits With Smoke, we believe smoke should enhance a cocktail - not mask it.
The Basis of a Negroni (and Our Preferred Ratio)
Traditionally, a Negroni is made with equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. While classic, that ratio can sometimes lean overly sweet or heavy especially once smoke is introduced.
Our version adjusts the balance to:
- 1.5 oz Gin
- 0.75 oz Campari
- 0.75 oz Sweet Vermouth
This ratio allows the botanicals in the gin to lead, softens the bitterness, and creates space for smoke and herbal aromatics to shine without overwhelming the palate. The result is a smoother, more aromatic Negroni that works beautifully with smoking techniques.
How to Smoke a Negroni Using a Home Bar Smoking Board
Smoking a cocktail isn’t about intensity, it’s about aroma. Our Home Bar Smoking Board lets you control that experience with precision.
Why Use a Smoking Board?
A smoking board captures smoke on the surface of the glass, infusing aroma into every sip rather than saturating the liquid itself. This makes it ideal for spirit-forward cocktails like the Negroni, where balance matters. Using a controlled tool—like the Spirits With Smoke Home Bar Smoking Boards, allows you to experiment with different woods and herbs while keeping the cocktail refined and intentional.
Smoking Method Overview
Rather than smoking the liquid directly, you’ll smoke the glass and garnish. This approach ensures the smoke remains elegant, subtle, and layered.
Using Fresh Herbs: Rosemary vs. Thyme
Herbs play a key role in smoked cocktails, especially when paired with botanicals and bitters.
Rosemary
- Bold and piney
- Pairs well with gin-forward profiles
- Best for colder months or richer Negroni builds
Thyme
- Softer and more floral
- Adds subtle earthiness without overpowering
- Ideal if you want smoke to feel lighter and more aromatic
Lightly smoke the herb on the board itself, using the glass to trap both the smoke from the board, and the aroma of the herb. This will add an additional layer of complexity.
Why Smoked Negroni's Work So Well
The Negroni’s bitterness, sweetness, and alcohol structure make it one of our favourite cocktails for smoke experimentation. When done correctly, smoke enhances the aromatics and rounds out sharp edges rather than dominating the drink. It just tastes better.
Using a controlled method like a smoking board and fresh herbs ensures the final cocktail remains balanced, intentional, and deeply, deeply satisfying.
So, if you’re looking to elevate your home bar skills, mastering the smoked Negroni is a perfect place to start.
