There is no single best vermouth for a Negroni. The best one depends on the style of Negroni you are after: rich and classic, bright and English, bitter and bracing, light and elegant, or pink and summery. So instead of crowning one winner, here are the five vermouths we reach for, each the best for a particular style of drink.
Two of the five are ours. We make vermouth at Asterley Bros, so take our enthusiasm for those accordingly. The other three are bottles we genuinely keep on the shelf, because a guide that only pointed at our own would not be much use to you.
Why the vermouth matters more than you think
A Negroni is equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred over ice with an orange twist. Three ingredients, one part each. That simplicity is exactly why the vermouth is not a background player: it is a full third of the drink. Change the vermouth and you change the Negroni more than you would expect.
It is worth getting right, because the Negroni is no longer a niche order. It was the world's best-selling classic cocktail at the world's best bars in Drinks International's 2025 survey, a poll of award-winning bars around the world, and it has held the top spot for several years running.
What you want from a Negroni vermouth is three things: enough sweetness to balance Campari's bitterness, enough bitterness of its own to give the drink grip, and enough body to carry the gin. A light, delicate vermouth that shines in a Martini will simply disappear in a Negroni. After that, it comes down to the style you want.
The English Negroni: Asterley Bros Estate
Estate is our English sweet vermouth, made in South London by infusing 31 botanicals with English Pinot Noir. It is built in the classic Italian rosso style but lower in sugar, with notes of orange, cacao, rosemary and wormwood, and delicate tannins from the wine. In a Negroni that means a brighter, more complex drink that still has the body to stand up to gin and Campari: an English take rather than a copy of the Italian one. You will find it stocked at Fortnum & Mason, Claridge's, Harvey Nichols and Jeroboams.
The rich, classic Negroni: Carpano Antica Formula
If there is a "default" Negroni vermouth, this is it. Rich and full-bodied, with vanilla, dried fig and a faint cola-like depth, Antica Formula gives you the plush, slightly old-fashioned Negroni most people picture when they order one. It is the most reliable way to make a very good classic Negroni, and the bottle most bars reach for.
The bitter, bracing Negroni: Punt e Mes
The name means "point and a half": one point of sweetness, half a point of bitterness. It is a sweet vermouth with the bitterness turned up, so it makes a more bracing, grown-up Negroni with real grip. Reach for it when you want a drink that bites back, or when you are using a softer gin that needs the extra backbone.
The light, elegant Negroni: Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
Lighter on its feet than the Carpano, with citrus, cocoa and a clean rhubarb-like bitterness, Cocchi makes a more aromatic and slightly less sweet Negroni. It is the choice when you want elegance over richness, and it pairs especially well with a citrus-forward gin.
The pink, summer Negroni: Asterley Bros Rosé Vermouth
A Rosé Negroni is the warm-weather version: swap the red vermouth for our Rosé Vermouth and use a lighter gin, and you get a pinker, more floral drink with raspberry and rose notes in place of the dark bitterness. It is a genuinely different cocktail rather than a watered-down one, and a good way in for people who find a classic Negroni too austere.
At a glance
| The Negroni you want | The vermouth | Character |
|---|---|---|
| English and complex | Asterley Bros Estate | Orange, cacao, rosemary; lower sugar |
| Rich and classic | Carpano Antica Formula | Vanilla, dried fig, full-bodied |
| Bitter and bracing | Punt e Mes | Sweet with the bitterness turned up |
| Light and elegant | Cocchi Vermouth di Torino | Citrus, cocoa, aromatic |
| Pink and summery (Rosé) | Asterley Bros Rosé Vermouth | Raspberry, rose, floral |
If you would rather not measure
If you want the drink without building it, our Rhubarb Negroni is a ready-to-drink bottled Negroni at 20% ABV. Keep it in the fridge, pour over ice, add an orange twist. It is the version we make for when there is no time to stir one from scratch.
Want to understand the difference between the English and Italian styles in more depth? Read our guide to English vermouth vs Italian vermouth.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of vermouth goes in a Negroni?
A sweet, red (rosso) vermouth, or a rosé vermouth for a Rosé Negroni. Dry vermouth is for Martinis; a classic Negroni needs the sweetness and body of a rosso to balance the Campari.
What is the best vermouth for a Negroni?
There is no single best one. For a rich, classic Negroni, Carpano Antica Formula is the traditional choice. For a brighter, more complex version, an English vermouth like Asterley Bros Estate. For extra bitterness, Punt e Mes. The best vermouth is the one that matches the style of Negroni you want.
Can I use dry vermouth in a Negroni?
You can, but it will not taste like a Negroni. Dry vermouth makes a much drier, sharper drink. Some people enjoy that version, but the classic uses sweet vermouth.
Does vermouth need to be kept in the fridge?
Yes. Vermouth is wine-based, so once opened it oxidises. Keep it in the fridge and use it within a month or two. A dusty bottle left in a warm cupboard is the most common reason a home Negroni tastes flat.
What is the classic Negroni ratio?
Equal parts: one part gin, one part Campari, one part sweet vermouth. Stir over ice, strain over fresh ice, and garnish with an orange twist.
Asterley Bros is a London maker of English vermouth, amaro and aperitivo, founded by brothers Rob and Jim Berry in 2014. We make our vermouth in small batches in South London, and yes, we think you should try it in your next Negroni.