Skip to Content
Recipes

Il Cardinale, a Less-Sweet Negroni Variation

This recipe for a less-sweet version of the Negroni subs in dry vermouth for the usual sweet, one of the many variations featured in the excellent new book, Italy Cocktails.

Cardinale cocktail

Il Cardinale, a Cinzano cocktail featured in Paul Feinstein’s book, Italy Cocktails. Photo: Marisa Lynch and Meredith Stisser

Italian cocktail culture finally gets its bible with Paul Feinstein's definitive new book, Italy Cocktails—An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by Italia. To source the recipes, the veteran food and travel writer looked to bars and brands from Italy to the United States and beyond, resulting in a collection that spans aperitivo to digestivo and everything in between. You'll find Negroni variations such as the Il Cardinale, featured below, along with useful advice on assembling the perfect Italian bar cart, knowing your way around Italian vermouths, and much more.

The Cardinale was invented in 1950 by Giovanni Raimondo at the Excelsior Hotel in Rome. The story goes that it was made for a visiting Cardinal from Germany. But whatever the origin (there are competing claims of versions from 1926 and 1947, of course), the Cardinale is really just a Negroni that uses dry vermouth instead of sweet and is a bit lighter in color. Accordingly, the taste is less sweet than a Negroni, so if your taste buds lend themselves to less sugary vibes, you might want to give Il Cardinale a try.

Excerpted with permission from Italy Cocktails — An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by Italia by Paul Feinstein published by Cider Mill Press, December 2023.

Il Cardinale Cocktail

Il Cardinale Cocktail

Recipe by Giovanni Raimondo
4.0 from 1 vote
Servings

1

servings
Prep time

2

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 oz. 1 gin

  • ½ oz. Campari

  • ¾ oz. Cinzano Extra Dry Vermouth

Directions

  • Fill a rocks glass with ice.
  • Pour all the ingredients directly into the rocks glass and stir.
  • Garnish with lemon zest.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @appetitomagazine on Instagram and hashtag it with #italianfoodanddrink

Like this recipe?

Follow @Appetitomagazine on Pinterest

Follow us on Facebook!

Follow us on Facebook

Already a user?Log in

Thanks for reading!

Register to continue

See all subscription options

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Appetito

The YouTube Stars of “Pasta Grammar” on Their New Cookbook

Eva and Harper, the YouTube stars of "Pasta Grammar" explain the concept of their first cookbook "The Italian Family Kitchen."

December 19, 2024

L’Americana’s Saffron Risotto With Lobster for a Luxe Winter Dish

Here’s how to make a lobster risotto dish that’s sure to warm you up on a cold night, courtesy of Manhattan restaurant L’Americana.

December 19, 2024

How to Make Your Own Struffoli this Christmas

The YouTube stars of "Pasta Grammar" share the recipe from their new cookbook for the holiday favorite of Struffoli.

December 18, 2024

11 Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Christmas 2024

This one's for the procrastinators. Here are items you can get shipped in time for Christmas with only a week to go!

December 18, 2024
See all posts