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Nuked Negroni Cocktail Recipe by Ryan Chetiyawardana

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Oct 14, 2024 • 2 min read

A classic Italian cocktail, the Negroni is the quintessential “equal parts” mixed drink. World-class mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana created a variation that he calls the Nuked Negroni, charges layered flavors into the traditional Negroni cocktail without substituting the liquid ingredients, using a simple tool that you likely already have in your kitchen: the microwave.

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History of the Classic Negroni

The accepted origin story of the Negroni places its invention in Florence, Italy, in 1919. According to the story, Count Camillo Negroni was at the bar Caffè Casoni when he asked the bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to give his favorite cocktail (the Americano) a little extra kick. While the Americano cocktail was usually made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water with a lemon peel garnish, Scarselli replaced the club soda with gin and garnished the creation with an orange peel, thereby creating the modern Negroni.

8 Variations on the Classic Negroni Cocktail

The basic template—base spirit, bitter aperitivo, and fortified wine—is great on its own, but it allows for the easy swapping of ingredients or the absorbing of elements that amplify some of the drink’s innate complexities. If you’re enjoying Ryan’s take on the Negroni, you might enjoy trying a few of these other well-known Negroni riffs:

  1. 1. Negroni sbagliato: Replaces the gin with sparkling white wine, or Prosecco.
  2. 2. Americano: Campari, sweet vermouth, and club soda.
  3. 3. Boulevardier: Replaces gin with whiskey.
  4. 4. White negroni: Features gin, sweet, floral Lillet blanc, and sharp, gentian-flavored Suze.
  5. 5. Aperol negroni: Swaps Aperol for Campari to lean into the tannic sweetness of orange zest.
  6. 6. Kingston negroni: Developed by New York City bartender Joaquín Simó, combines Smith & Cross Jamaican rum with Carpano Antica sweet vermouth and Campari.
  7. 7. Mezcal negroni: Swaps gin for mezcal’s smoky flavor.
  8. 8. Negroni bianco: Calls for blanc vermouth instead of the usual vermouth rosso.

Ryan Chetiyawardana’s Nuked Negroni Cocktail Recipe

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makes

about 5 cocktails

prep time

3 min

total time

11 min

cook time

8 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    Combine all ingredients except for the grapefruit wedge in a microwave-safe glass bowl.

  2. 2

    Cover with a plate or lid and microwave for three minutes.

  3. 3

    Using oven mitts, remove from the bowl from the microwave and allow the contents to cool.

  4. 4

    Once cooled, strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a resealable container.

  5. 5

    Pour about 60ml (2.4 oz.) into a chilled rocks glass (also called an old fashioned glass) with a large ice cube. Garnish with a pink grapefruit wedge, if desired.

  6. 6

    Store the remaining liquid in the refrigerator in an airtight container or clean bottle for as long as you’d like.

Learn more about mixology from award-winning bartenders. Refine your palate, explore the world of spirits, and shake up the perfect cocktail for your next gathering with the MasterClass Annual Membership.