Tequila Negroni

Tequila Negroni is a fun variation of our favorite classic cocktail. It's made with tequila instead of gin and garnished with a lime peel for a little Mexican fusion. There's also the option of making this a spicy tequila negroni!

If you love negroni variations as much as we do, also try our mezcal negroni and our coffee negroni.

Tequila Negroni

AKA Tegroni or Rosita Cocktail

As much as we adore a classic negroni, we also love playing with new variations. This tequila version was born when we ran out of gin and decided to get creative.

Tequila works so well in a negroni that we often reach for it instead of gin.

What is a tequila negroni called

Around here we simply call a negroni made with tequila a tequila negroni; we're fancy like that.

But often a tequila negroni is called a Tegroni, Agavoni (agave + negroni), or even a Rosita Cocktail (although a Rosita is technically made with half sweet and half dry vermouth.)

How to make a tequila negroni

Making a tequila negroni is every bit as easy as making a classic negroni.

1. Add a small handful of ice to a cocktail glass or mason jar – not too much as you don't want to water down your drink!
2. Pour the liquor in and stir it for about 30 seconds with a spoon.
3. Strain your tequila negroni into a glass, garnish with a lime peel or wedge, and enjoy!

Full recipe in the recipe card below.

How to make a tegroni for a crowd

Negronis make an excellent party drink as they're widely loved, simple to make, and easily made in a batch. Simply mix equal portions of each liquor with a little ice in a pitcher then set it out with some short glasses on your table. A bowl of dehydrated lime wheels in a bowl beside the pitcher is a great way for your guests to garnish their own drinks.

You can make as much or as little as you want. For example, mix 1 cup tequila + 1 cup Campari + 1 cup sweet vermouth. Or go really big and mix 2 cups of each. This is one drink that's super easy to scale up or down.

If you love bittersweet Italian cocktails, also try an Aperol spritz!

Ingredient notes

Tequila – We prefer blanco tequila (white tequila) for making this negroni variation. While you don't need to go top-shelf for a mixed drink, make sure that you buy a tequila you enjoy drinking. The better the ingredients, the better the negroni.

Sweet vermouth – The flavor of sweet vermouth can vary depending on the brand you buy, but even a low-priced bottle will make a great tequila negroni.

Campari – This is a bitter Italian liquor that gives a negroni its signature color and flavor.

Ancho Reyes – This is an OPTIONAL ingredient. Ancho Reyes is a spicy Mexican liquor made from ancho and poblano chiles. Another wonderful negroni variation is to add an ounce of Ancho Reyes to your cocktail. It will make it deliciously spicy!

How to garnish a tequila negroni

Traditionally, a negroni is garnished with a slice of orange zest. But when we make a negroni with tequila, we like to use a strip of lime peel.

Lime and tequila are well-known partners and they pair up well in this Mexican version of a negroni. The lime zest adds a wonderful aroma when you take a sip of the drink that seems to bring out the tequila flavor.

Another great option is to use a dehydrated citrus wheel. To make them easily at home, lay thinly sliced citrus on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and dehydrate them in your oven at the lowest temperature. They usually take a few hours to dry completely and then they last nearly forever in your pantry.

Popular negroni variations

• Aperol Negroni
• White Negroni
• Frozen Negroni Slushy
• Negroni Sour
• Negroni Sbagliato

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Tequila Negroni Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 0 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

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Tequila Negroni is a fun variation of our favorite classic cocktail. It's made with tequila instead of gin and garnished with a lime peel for a little Mexican fusion. There's also the option of making this a spicy tequila negroni!

1 tequila negroni

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 ounce blanco tequila ((white tequila))
• ▢ 1 ounce Campari
• ▢ 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• ▢ 1 ounce Ancho Reyes (optional – see notes)
• ▢ Lime peel, lime wedge, or dehydrated lime wheel (to garnish)

Instructions 

• Place a small handful of ice into a cocktail glass or 2-cup mason jar.
• Add the tequila, Campari, sweet vermouth, and (if using) the Ancho Reyes and stir for about 30 seconds.
  1 ounce blanco tequila, 1 ounce Campari, 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• Strain into a low ball glass with a large ice cube or 2-3 small ice cubes then garnish with lime.
  Lime peel, lime wedge, or dehydrated lime wheel

Notes

To make a pitcher of tequila negronis for a party, add little ice to a pitcher then add equal parts of each liquor. For example, 1 cup tequila + 1 cup Campari + 1 cup sweet vermouth. 

Ancho Reyes – Add this optional ingredient if you would like to make a spicy tequila negroni. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 tequila negroni, Calories: 164kcal (8%), Carbohydrates: 9g (3%), Protein: 1g (2%), Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 1mg, Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

For more inspiration, check out all of our negroni variations!

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