Sam Heughan: Mezcal Negroni

I’m sure the Negroni’s popularity is partly to do with its simple recipe – even I can remember (just about) that it’s just equal measures of Campari, gin and vermouth. This recipe gives it a Mexican twist by using mezcal in place of the gin, which lends a lovely, smoky earthiness to the bitter/sweet flavours of the other ingredients.

I like to play around with it – perhaps a bit less sweet vermouth, perhaps a bit more mezcal, see where it takes me… I find using a reposado tequila instead of the mezcal makes it sweeter but no less delicious. The possibilities are endless!

Extracted from The Cocktail Diaries, Sam Heughan (Quadrille, £20) Photography ©Matt Russell. Buy Now

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