Winter Negroni Sour

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Negroni Sour—it’s one of those cocktails that I believe was the first to truly go viral. Its balance of bitter, sweet, and sour won everyone over, and rightfully so. Now, here’s a winter twist on this classic that I absolutely can’t get enough of.

Enter the Winter Negroni Sour—a cozy, festive riff on the viral Smoked Rosemary Negroni Sour. Trust me when I say, I am head over heels all over again. This version brings a touch of seasonal warmth and depth, with rich, smoky undertones that make it feel like the perfect drink for winter evenings.

Watch Me Mix a Winter Negroni Sour

How to Make a Winter Negroni Sour

1. To a shaker without ice, add egg white, gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, cranberry-cinnamon syrup, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice. Dry shake.
2. Add ice and shake again.
3. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a fresh grapefruit slice and freshly ground cinnamon.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Gin

My favorite kind of gin for a winter time Negroni has strong botanicals so it feels like I’m literally drinking a Christmas tree. Check out my Gin Guide for everything you need to know.

Sweet Vermouth

To balance out the bitterness and amp up the winter botanicals, we add this fortified white wine infused with herbs, botanicals, and sugar. It usually has a deep amber color.

Campari

The other must-have for a Negroni is Campari, an iconic bittersweet Italian liqueur with a deep red color. When paired with a super juniper-y gin, this herbal, citrusy liqueur really shines.

Egg White

The egg white is what makes this cocktail creamy and frothy on top! When making egg white cocktails, be sure to start with a dry shake (no ice) before doing the second shake with ice. Learn more about egg white cocktails in my Egg White How-to.

Cranberry-Cinnamon Syrup

This syrup is really where the wintery flavors go POW! You can easily make your own flavored simple syrup at home. Once you nail down the base recipe (just sugar and water!) you can graduate to this recipe for Cranberry Syrup with added cinnamon.

Citrus Juice

If it’s not fresh… we don’t want it!

Tips for Making the Best Winter Negroni Sour

• The dry shake. Add all the ingredients, including the egg white, to a shaker without ice for the first shake. Then you’ll add ice and shake it again to dilute and chill.
• Always, always, always use fresh lemon and grapefruit juice. You’ll be able to taste the difference, I promise.
• It might sound like a lot of work, but really do give making your own flavored simple syrup a try. It’s so so easy! Just give yourself enough time to let it chill completely before adding to your cocktail.

Why You’ll Love This Winter Negroni Sour

• Gin lovers, rejoice! If you love the flavor of gin, this is absolutely the cocktail for you.
• If you’re not sold on the more simple and boozy-forward Negroni or Negroni Sour, ease into the idea of it with this juicy and easy-drinking winter riff.
• All the botanicals. You’ve got gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and wintery flavors in the syrup and citrus juice. It’s the flavor bomb your holiday party has been asking for.
• Wow your guests. This Winter Negroni Sour is great for holiday parties and big seasonal celebrations.
• If you love this recipe, check out similar riffs like the Plum Negroni Sour and Smoked Thyme Bianco Negroni Sour!