Drinks

Christmas Spiced Negroni Recipe

ByJulian Dempsey October 20, 2025October 20, 2025

Introduction

This Christmas Spiced Negroni is a festive twist on the classic cocktail, infused with warm holiday spices that add depth and aroma. Perfect for cozy winter evenings, it combines rich flavors of cinnamon, star anise, and cloves with traditional cocktail ingredients for a seasonal treat.

A clear glass with a diamond pattern holds a reddish-orange drink filled with four visible round ice cubes. A slice of blood orange with deep red and orange hues is placed inside the glass, partly resting on the ice and leaning on the side of the glass. The glass is sitting on a white marbled surface, with a blurred kitchen stove in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

500 ml gin
1 star anise
2 whole cloves
Nutmeg (small piece)
2 cinnamon sticks (each approx. 7.5 cm / 3 inches in length)
15 whole cloves
30 ml (1 fl oz) spiced gin
30 ml (1 fl oz) red vermouth
30 ml (1 fl oz) Campari
2 thick orange segments
Sunflower oil (or other tasteless oil for brushing oranges)

Instructions

Step 1: Roughly crush the star anise, whole cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and additional cloves using a pestle and mortar to release their flavors.
Step 2: Heat the crushed spices gently in a dry pan for 1-2 minutes until aromatic, taking care not to burn them.
Step 3: Transfer the warmed spices to a jar, add the gin, seal tightly, and let it infuse for 5 days. Shake the jar daily to help mix the flavors.
Step 4: After 5 days, strain the infused gin through muslin or a fine sieve into a clean glass bottle and store it for use.
Step 5: For the charred orange, brush the orange segments lightly with sunflower oil and char them in a hot pan for 1-2 minutes on each side. Set aside to cool.
Step 6: To assemble the Negroni, fill a glass with ice cubes and add one charred orange wedge.
Step 7: Pour in 30 ml each of the spiced gin, red vermouth, and Campari, then stir gently to combine.
Step 8: Garnish with the remaining charred orange wedge and serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

Use a mild oil like sunflower or grapeseed to avoid overpowering the orange’s natural flavor when charring.
Adjust the spice quantities to your taste; more cinnamon or cloves can add warmth, while reducing nutmeg keeps it lighter.
For a quicker infusion, you can gently warm the gin with spices for 20 minutes, then cool and strain, but flavor will be less intense.
Try garnishing with a cinnamon stick or a fresh sprig of rosemary for an extra festive touch.

Storage

Store the spiced gin in a sealed glass bottle in a cool, dark place for up to 2 weeks. Once mixed into the cocktail, serve immediately for best flavor. Leftover mixed drinks can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours but may lose the fresh charred orange aroma.