Paraben Free Classic Strawberry Negroni
Cocktails are one of those places where synthetic additives and artificial flavors tend to sneak in through flavored syrups, pre-made mixes, and store-bought shortcuts. This version sidesteps all of that by building everything from scratch with real, recognizable ingredients — fresh strawberries, sugar, water, and a handful of classic bar staples. The homemade strawberry syrup is the heart of the drink: simmered until deeply pink and strained clean, it brings a bright, jammy sweetness that no bottle from the shelf can replicate. Combined with gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth, the result is a beautifully bitter, fruit-forward cocktail that feels both timeless and a little unexpected. Stirring over large ice cubes chills and dilutes the drink to exactly the right balance, and the orange peel twist at the end adds a fragrant citrus note that ties everything together. It's the kind of cocktail that looks impressive on a table and tastes even better than it looks.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the strawberry syrup
- ½ cup fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
For the cocktail
- 3 oz gin
- 2 oz campari
- 2 oz sweet vermouth
- 1 oz strawberry syrup (from above)
- large ice cubes, for mixing and serving
For serving
- 2 fresh strawberries, halved, for garnish (optional)
- 2 orange peel twists, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the strawberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then press the strawberries gently with the back of a spoon and cook until the berries are fully softened and the syrup is a deep pink, about 4–5 minutes.
- 2
Pour the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl or jar, pressing the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids. Let the syrup cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
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