Negroni Variation

White Negroni

3 min.London Dry gin

Fill an Old Fashioned glass with solid ice.
1
Add the London Dry gin directly into the glass.
2
Add the Lillet Blanc.
3
Add the Suze.
4
If using, add the salt.
5
Stir with a bar spoon until the drink is well chilled and properly diluted.
6
Express the pink grapefruit peel over the surface of the drink to release its oils, then drop it into the glass as a garnish.
7
Serve immediately.
8

France
Origin
The White Negroni was created around 2001 by British bartender Wayne Collins at VinExpo in Bordeaux, France, during a promotion for Plymouth Gin. Wanting a Negroni-style drink but using French ingredients at hand, he replaced Campari and sweet vermouth with Suze and Lillet Blanc, building the drink in equal parts over ice with a pink grapefruit twist. The cocktail spread internationally after Plymouth ambassador Simon Ford introduced it to Audrey Saunders, who placed it on the menu at New York’s Pegu Club, helping cement its status as a modern classic.
History
Collins originally specified equal parts of gin, Suze, and Lillet Blanc, mirroring the classic Negroni’s 1:1:1 structure before later experimenting with more gin-forward ratios. The distinctive pink grapefruit twist garnish is directly attributed to Wayne Collins and has become a hallmark of the drink’s presentation. Suze, the drink’s bitter backbone, is a French gentian liqueur whose earthy, floral bitterness stands in for Campari’s bracing Italian bitterness while keeping the drink visually pale. Although widely regarded as a modern classic, the White Negroni does not appear on the official IBA cocktail list.
Trivia
Charcuterie with soft cheeses, Salty snacks such as olives or nuts, Citrus-marinated seafood
Pairings
Wayne Collins
Source