The Alcohol-Free Negroni recipe
briefly stirred over one ice cube
Place the tumbler and the three bottles in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
Place a large ice cube in the glass and pour the alcohol-free gin, bitter, and Martini Vibrante over it.
Stir for ten seconds with a bar spoon, and no longer: without alcohol, there’s nothing to tame, and extra meltwater will only make it thinner.
Squeeze the orange zest over the glass with the peel side facing down, rub it around the rim, and hang it in the glass.
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The story
According to tradition, around 1919 in Florence, Count Camillo Negroni asked for gin instead of soda water in his Americano, and so the Negroni was born. In addition, Italy has been drinking alcohol-free bitters with the aperitif since the 1960s. Sanpellegrino launched a red alcohol-free bitter in 1961, which has been called Sanbittèr since 1985, and Crodino followed in 1965, joining Campari in 1995. A completely alcohol-free negroni only became possible when gin and vermouth also became available in 0.0 versions. Gordon's and Tanqueray launched their 0.0 gins in 2020 and 2021, and Martini created an alcohol-free aperitif with the taste of red vermouth with Vibrante.
The right glass
Serve it in a sturdy, low-built tumbler of 30 to 38 cl, just like the original. The wide glass provides room for one large ice cube, which is even more important in this version: a large cube melts slowly, while loose cubes dilute the drink within a few minutes. A thick base keeps everything cold for longer. The deep red of the bitter and the Vibrante looks best in clear, colourless glass. View our tumbler glasses.
Eclat Longchamp Tumbler 32 cl (6 pieces)
RCR Aria Tumbler 38 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 63,90.
The right tools
For an alcohol-free negroni, in addition to the glass, use a bar spoon for stirring, a jigger for precise measuring, a zester for the twist, and large ice cubes. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 4 bar tools together € 109,75.
What do you make an Alcohol-Free negroni with?
For an Alcohol-Free negroni, you need an alcohol-free base. Well-known bottles include Martini Vibrante, Tanqueray 0.0% and Gordon's 0.0%. On each drink page, you can read the percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails it pairs with and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
Leave out the gin and top up with 6 cl sparkling water for an alcohol-free Americano. Replace the gin with alcohol-free sparkling wine to make a 0.0 version of the Negroni Sbagliato. Using Crodino instead of Sanbittèr makes it orange and milder. Prefer something long and light? Then take a look at the Alcohol-Free Spritz, or start the evening with an alcohol-free gin and tonic.
Serving tip
Serve a bowl of green olives and chips alongside it. Salt softens bitterness, so after a bite you can taste the orange and herbs more clearly. Martini also recommends Vibrante with salty snacks.
Good to know
Why an alcohol-free negroni is difficult
The original contains three alcoholic bottles: gin at around 40 percent, Campari at 25 and red vermouth at around 15. Together, they provide weight, warmth and a bitterness that lingers. Alcohol-free alternatives are thinner and often sweeter, because sugar has to take over some of the body. So don't expect a copy, but a bittersweet aperitif in the style of a negroni. What remains: the red color, orange, juniper and the bitter finish. Those familiar with the original will recognize it immediately; those looking for sharpness will find less of it here.
Which alcohol-free bitter replaces Campari
Sanpellegrino's Sanbittèr comes closest: red, with bitter orange and a hint of grapefruit. It comes in 10 cl bottles, exactly enough for three glasses, and is lightly carbonated; most of the fizz disappears while stirring. Taste it after stirring: if it is too sweet, add half a centiliter of 0.0 gin. Crodino, owned by Campari since 1995, is orange and spicy and is more often drunk as an alcohol-free spritz. This makes the negroni milder and lighter in color. A bottle is intended for one serving: refrigerate any leftovers in a sealed container and use them the same day.
Martini Vibrante as a vermouth substitute
Martini calls Vibrante an alcohol-free aperitif and describes its flavor as bittersweet with bergamot; on its own website, it is listed among the vermouths. In this negroni, it takes the place of the red vermouth: it brings color, sweetness, and a spicy foundation. Treat an opened bottle like vermouth and keep it in the refrigerator. If you have some left over, make the spritz Martini itself recommends: 7.5 cl Vibrante, 2.5 cl fresh grapefruit juice, and 5 cl soda water over plenty of ice, with a slice of grapefruit.
Which alcohol-free gin works in a negroni
Choose a 0.0 gin with a pronounced juniper character, because in a negroni the gin has to hold its own against two sweet, bitter partners. Tanqueray 0.0% is made with, among other botanicals, juniper, coriander, angelica root, and licorice, and that spicy base works well with the bitter aperitif. Gordon's 0.0% puts juniper even more front and center. If the result is too sweet, use 4 cl of gin to 3 cl of each of the other two ingredients. Soft, floral 0.0 gins disappear completely here, just as a soft gin does in a regular negroni.
Bringing back body and warmth
What you miss most is the warmth of alcohol. Stirring in a thin slice of fresh ginger for ten seconds gives a slight kick at the back of your throat that comes fairly close; remove it afterward, otherwise the ginger will overpower everything. Stir briefly and over one large ice cube, so as little meltwater as possible is added. Leave out bitters if you want to keep it completely alcohol-free: Angostura contains 44.7 percent alcohol. With an ice cube mold for large cubes, you can make ice that melts slowly enough.
Alcohol-free negroni for a group
Because it contains no citrus, you can mix it in advance. For eight glasses, use 24 cl 0.0 gin, 24 cl Sanbittèr and 24 cl Martini Vibrante; you will need three bottles of Sanbittèr. Unlike with a regular negroni, do not add water. In that drink, the water replaces the dilution the alcohol needs; here it only makes the drink thin. Refrigerate the bottle for at least two hours and finish it the same day, because the mixture keeps for less time without alcohol. Pour 9 cl per glass over a large ice cube and garnish with a zest.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make an alcohol-free negroni?
Pour 3 cl alcohol-free gin, 3 cl alcohol-free red bitter such as Sanbittèr and 3 cl Martini Vibrante over a large ice cube in a tumbler. Stir for ten seconds, no longer, and squeeze an orange zest over the glass. Stirring for less time than with the original prevents it from becoming thin.
What is an alcohol-free alternative to Campari?
Sanbittèr by Sanpellegrino comes closest to Campari: red, bitter and with orange and grapefruit. Crodino is orange and spicy and is more often drunk as an alcohol-free spritz, so it makes the negroni milder. Both come in 10 cl bottles, enough for three glasses.
Does an alcohol-free negroni taste like a real negroni?
Not quite. It is lighter, slightly sweeter and lacks the warmth of alcohol. The red color, bitter finish, juniper and orange are clearly recognizable, though. Think of it as a bittersweet aperitif in negroni style, not a copy of the original.
Which glass do you use for an alcohol-free negroni?
A low tumbler holding 30 to 38 cl with a thick base, the same as for a regular negroni. It holds one large ice cube, which melts slowly and keeps the drink cold without diluting it quickly. That is especially important for the alcohol-free version.
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