Cherry Negroni: gin, cherry brandy, amaretto and Campari make for a delicious quartet!

This fabulous cherry Negroni recipe is a must-try for those who love discovering fun, creative and delicious alternative negroni recipes and have a penchant for luscious cherry tones. The recipe is very easy to make at home, so what are you waiting for? Give it a go today!

What does a cherry negroni taste like?

Cherry Negroni recipes most commonly lead with either sweet or sour cherry flavours. For example, the Hawksmoor Sour Cherry Negroni uses “acid-adjusted” cherry juice to give the cocktail a tongue-tingly sour kick. 

For this recipe, we have gone for sweeter cherry flavours by using cherry brandy (a cherry liqueur like Luxardo Maraschino also works well here) and by adding amaretto to give the cocktail a nutty almond fragrance that is a simply divine complement to the cherry tones. 

Whether sweet or sour, a cherry Negroni is still a Negroni, so you should always expect a rich backdrop of juniper from the London dry gin and a delectably bitter citrus element from the Campari. 

Most Negroni will also have an aromatic herbaceous profile from the use of sweet vermouth, however, in this recipe, the vermouth is replaced by the cherry brandy as we have opted for a more fruity recipe.

Is a Cherry Negroni very alcoholic?

The traditional Negroni mixes London dry gin (which must be 37.5% ABV or above), sweet vermouth (normally around 15% ABV) and Campari (around 25% ABV in the UK) so it is a strong cocktail in terms of alcohol content.

This cherry Negroni replaces the sweet vermouth with cherry brandy which is usually around 40% ABV (cherry brandy liqueurs have a lower ABV of around 25- 30%) and amaretto which often sits at between 21% and 28% ABV. So the cherry Negroni, if made with true cherry brandy is more alcoholic than its traditional Negroni counterpart.

What gin should I use for this cherry Negroni recipe?

For this cherry Negroni recipe, we recommend using NDC Heritage Gin, Craft Gin Club’s April 2023 Gin of the Month.

Made with New Zealand coriander, which has a uniquely vibrant lemon pop, and Meler lemons, it has vibrant citrus tones that contrast and elevate the sweeter cherry brandy and mellow amaretto wonderfully.

You could also replace the cherry brandy with cherry juice if you prefer a little less sweet or strong drink.

Another alternative is to use 45ml gin and replace the cherry brandy with 15ml of cherry liqueur, such as Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur - a Luxardo Cherry Negroni can be very inviting too! Experiment and see which balance of flavours you enjoy most!

Like this? You might also be interested in:

• Six of the best sloe gin cocktails to try at home
• Autumn gin cocktails to see you through the colder months
• How to make the perfect Negroni

Six of the best sloe gin cocktails to try at home

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How to make the perfect Negroni