Negroni Spritzers

I will never turn down a Negroni. I love the combination of bitter Campari and sweet vermouth. I love the color. I love the little hint of citrus the orange rind gives the drink.  I  also have a bad habit of finishing whatever drink is in my hand in about ten minutes, which can become a problem when that drink- in this case the Negroni- is pure alcohol.

Having recently had five at a friend’s birthday, where they were “on tap,” I can tell you that there is such a thing as too many Negronis, and that number is definitely fewer than five.

These Negroni Spritzers are my compromise. Made with the cocktail’s traditional ingredients – gin, Campari and sweet vermouth in equal parts- they are toned down with a generous pour of soda and freshly squeezed blood orange juice. (Regular oranges would be fine, too.) The drinks still have that bitter and sweet Negroni bite, but are a lighter and more refreshing twist on the classic. And though I still might not recommend having five, I think you could get away with having at least two or three, hangover-free.

Negroni Spritzer

• Servings: Makes 4 drinks
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Ingredients

• ½ cup gin
• ½ cup Campari
• ½ cup sweet vermouth
• 1 cup freshly squeezed blood orange juice (from 3-4 blood oranges)
• 1 ½ cups club soda
• thin slices of blood orange, for serving

Directions

Pour the gin, Campari, vermouth, orange juice, and club soda into a pitcher. Fill four tall glasses with ice and divide the drink mixture among them. Garnish with a slice of blood orange and serve.