Apricot-Orange Negroni Cocktail Recipe

The Apricot-Orange Negroni is a riff on the classic Negroni cocktail that features gin, vermouth, Suze, and a mix of apricot jam and orange marmalade. This drink has a blend of bittersweet and fruity flavors. 

Developed by Aurélien Boutry, bar director at the Aman Le Mélézin in Courchevel, France, this drink is a favorite among guests looking for a warming après-ski beverage after a long day spent in the French Alps. 

In lieu of Campari, the Italian red bitter classic to a Negroni, this riff features a French liqueur called Suze. Known for its yellow hue and unique profile, Suze is a liqueur made with gentian root. It has bittersweet and herbaceous notes of lemon peel, tangerine, and tarragon and a subtle, earthy finish. It’s known best for its role in a white Negroni, or just enjoyed on its own as an after-dinner aperitif. 

Instead of the sweet vermouth used in a classic Negroni, Boutry calls for ambrato vermouth, an amber alternative to red and white vermouth that offers notes of warming spices, rhubarb, and citrus peels. Ambrato is a Vermouth di Torino, a subset of the style made in Italy’s Piedmont region. 

What makes the Apricot-Orange Negroni work? 

Boutry’s Apricot-Orange Negroni pairs the flavors present in Suze with store-bought apricot jam and orange marmalade. The preserves give this drink richness and a cooked-fruit flavor that helps offset some of the more bitter ingredients. 

While a classic Negroni has a 1:1:1 ratio of gin, vermouth, and red bitter, this drink pulls back slightly on the Suze, which has a powerful flavor profile. This ratio also allows for the gentle sweetness of the orange marmalade and apricot jam to shine through.