Negroni Week seemed like a perfectly good excuse to mess with one of the most recognizable three-part cocktails around. The classic combination of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth doesn’t exactly need fixing, so naturally I started changing things.
Blanc Slate keeps the gin and Campari but replaces the rich, spicy sweet vermouth with Lillet Blanc, then adds a small amount of elderflower liqueur. The result is lighter and more floral than a traditional Negroni while keeping enough bitterness to make its ancestry pretty obvious.
The idea developed while I was asking people on Threads how far you could riff on a Negroni before it stopped being a Negroni. Opinions varied considerably, but the discussion sent me toward the bottles already sitting in my bar. After a few experiments, Lillet Blanc and elderflower were the clear winners.
The first sip starts sweet, followed quickly by the botanicals from the gin. Campari arrives toward the finish with its familiar bitterness, while the elderflower leaves just a touch of floral character behind. It’s recognizably Negroni-inspired without tasting like someone simply tinkered with the classic ratios.
Blanc Slate: A Floral Negroni Riff for Negroni Week
1
servings5
minutes5
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
1 oz 1 London Dry gin
1/2 oz 1/2 Campari
1/2 oz 1/2 Lillet Blanc
1/4 oz 1/4 St. Elder elderflower liqueur
Directions
- Add the gin, Campari, Lillet Blanc, and elderflower liqueur to a rocks glass over ice.
- Stir until chilled and properly diluted.
- Express an orange peel over the drink and garnish.
Equipment
Long Bar SpoonBuy From A Bar Above
Silicone Bar MatBuy From A Bar Above
Stainless Bell JiggerBuy From A Bar Above
Notes
- Overall Balance: Blanc Slate is sweeter and lighter than a classic Negroni, but Campari keeps the drink from wandering too far into floral territory. London Dry gin provides enough juniper and botanical character to stand up to both the Campari and elderflower, while Lillet Blanc gives the drink a softer wine base than sweet vermouth.
- Flavor Expectation: Expect a little sweetness first, followed by gin botanicals and citrus. Campari bitterness builds toward the finish, with a subtle floral note from the elderflower lingering behind it. If you like the bitter character of a Negroni but occasionally find the classic version a little heavy, Blanc Slate heads in a lighter direction without abandoning the basic idea.
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