What does a White Negroni taste like?
A White Negroni tastes like a lighter, more floral Negroni: piney gin with honeyed, citrusy wine and a sharp, earthy bitterness from gentian root.
White Negroni
pale, bitter and floral
A White Negroni keeps the Negroni's equal-parts idea but swaps the red ingredients for pale ones: gin, Lillet Blanc (a lightly sweet, citrusy French aperitif wine) and Suze (a yellow French liqueur made from gentian root). Gentian is earthy and bitter in a different way than Campari, more like grapefruit pith and herbs than orange. The Lillet adds honey and citrus, and the gin brings juniper. It's stirred and strong, but tastes brighter and more floral than the red original. Some bars use other pale bitters, so it varies.
Where you’ll see it
At cocktail bars and on Negroni variation lists, served over a big ice cube or up, with a lemon or grapefruit twist. It is pale gold rather than red, so it is easy to spot across the bar.
Order it if you like Negronis and want a brighter, more floral take.
Quick questions
- Is a White Negroni as bitter as a Negroni?
- About as bitter, but a different kind. Gentian is earthier and sharper than Campari, and the drink is less sweet and fruity overall.
- What is in a White Negroni?
- Gin, Lillet Blanc and Suze, a gentian liqueur. Some bars use other pale bitter liqueurs or blanc vermouth instead.