Boulevardier Cocktail

This Boulevardier Cocktail is similar to a Negroni but made with bourbon or rye whiskey instead of gin. While the classic recipe is an IBA official cocktail and the same everywhere, I provide both the individual cocktail recipe and a larger batch-size, perfectly scaled up for parties and entertaining.

 

Meggan’s notes

As a classically-trained chef with loads of cocktail-making experience, culinary math is one of my superpowers, and I love to provide both individual and batch-size versions of cocktails. I’ll also show you how to make it “on the rocks” or “up” depending on what you prefer.

The classic garnish of a Boulevardier Cocktail is a piece of orange peel, which you twist over the finished cocktail to release its oils. I’ll show you two ways (with pictures) to zest an orange, with both a vegetable peeler and a paring knife, to make an orange twist.

Recipe ingredients

Ingredient and equipment notes

• Whiskey: Bourbon or rye whiskey are both fine. Rye has a little bit of spice to it, and bourbon is a little sweeter.
• Campari: This Italian liqueur is extremely bitter with notes of cherry, cinnamon, clove, and orange peel.
• Sweet vermouth: A fortified wine (made from grapes) that tastes sweet and bitter with notes of botanicals (herbs, roots, and barks) and caramel.
• Orange twist: Twisting a piece of fresh orange peel over the cocktail releases the oils, adding more flavor and a fresh orange scent to the cocktail.
• Glassware: The Boulevardier cocktail is traditionally made in an Old Fashioned glass over ice, a 6-oz. to 10-oz. glass tumbler. Similar to a rocks glass or lowball glass, the Old Fashioned glass is decorated in the cut glass style. Straight-up, or without ice, is best served in a chilled martini glass or coupe glass.

How to make a Boulevardier on the rocks (with ice)

1. To an old-fashioned glass filled with ice, add bourbon, Campari, and sweet vermouth.

2. Using a bar spoon, gently stir.

3. Twist orange peel above the drink, and add as garnish.

How to make a Boulevardier up (no ice)

1. In a mixing glass, add bourbon, Campari, and sweet vermouth.

2. Top with ice. Stir for 30 seconds using a long spoon.

3. Strain out cocktail into a chilled martini glass or coupe.

4. Twist orange peel above the drink and add as garnish.

Big batch Boulevardiers

To make a batch of 8 cocktails, combine the following in a chilled pitcher:

• 10 ounces (1 ¼ cups) bourbon or rye whiskey
• 8 ounces (1 cup) Campari
• 8 ounces (1 cup) sweet vermouth

Chill until serving time. Have ice, glassware, and orange twists on hand so guests can help themselves.

How to make an orange twist with a vegetable peeler

Hold the orange in one hand and the peeler in the other. Beginning at the top of the fruit and working your way around the orange, use the peeler to cut into the skin and carefully remove the peel in thick, wide strips. Use light pressure to avoid going so deep as to remove the white pith, which has a bitter taste.

How to make an orange twist with a paring knife

Hold the orange in one hand and the knife in the other. Beginning at the top of the fruit, cut into the skin and carefully remove the peel in strips, working your way around the orange. Avoid going so deep as to remove the white pith.

How to chill glassware

Coat the outside of glassware with water and freeze until serving time. Or, freeze dry glassware for 2 to 3 hours before serving.

More classic cocktails

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Old Fashioned Drink Recipe

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