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Kingston Negroni
The huge character of pungent rum is matched with a bittersweet liqueur and sweet vermouth combo. Not for everyone but a Negroni riff worth trying1st January at 01:41
Made this with S&C rum, Campari, and Punt e mes, and I kid you not, this is my first 10/10 in a very long time! A perfect drink!
17th April at 22:32
Same specs. 1.5 oz equal parts. Was worried about the punt e mes at first. But comes together quite nicely.
26th September 2025 at 18:37
Not being a big fan of bitter cocktails, I temper mine with 10ml of coffee liqueur. So, 30ml Revival Rum Aged, 30ml Cinzano Rosso, 20 ml Campari, the coffee liqueur and a dash of orange bitters.
Distillery tour visitors seem to enjoy it!
Distillery tour visitors seem to enjoy it!
20th July 2025 at 16:08
If you are used to a ‘standard’ Negroni then using S&C rum takes the drink to a different dimension. It’s a negroni but Not!
The rummy flavours mess with you first, but each sip takes you to a new place…and it’s good.
Nearing the end of the drink I found myself adding a bit more rum!
The rummy flavours mess with you first, but each sip takes you to a new place…and it’s good.
Nearing the end of the drink I found myself adding a bit more rum!
29th March 2025 at 04:22
Tried it with Doctor Bird, Antica and Campari. I am not ashamed to admit that Doctor Bird is too funky for me. Back to Smith & Cross.
You have been warned! Dr Bird is for serious rum drinkers who LOVE hogo.
You have been warned! Dr Bird is for serious rum drinkers who LOVE hogo.
12th March 2025 at 15:02
I make mine with 45mL of the Ultimate Mai Tai rumblend (equal ratios of Plantation OFTD, Xaymaca, Smith&Cross, Appleton 8 y/o) and some tiki bitters or chocolate bitters. When having a sweet tooth, I sometimes add a 20 mL of dark creme de cacao or homemade banana liqueur absolutely delicious!
25th November 2024 at 19:22
I cannot imagine a better Negroni riff. Smith and Cross really delivered once more.
31st August 2024 at 12:56
SUCH a good drink! Simon when you work out the ABV are you including the water from dilution?
31st August 2024 at 13:07
Yes, for this cocktail at 27%.
27th August 2024 at 07:36
This is our favourite Negroni. We use Xaymaca Special Dry Pot Still. What that lacks in over-proof it makes up for in strength and complexity of aroma and flavour.
30th May 2024 at 23:22
This is intense, but I like it. Strong Smith & Cross funk up front, followed by bittersweet, slightly herbal orange and wine notes on the back-end, effectively mellowing out some of the rougher notes you can get from Smith & Cross.
17th March 2024 at 14:31
Tried making this with Plantation O.F.T.D., which was the closest I had to a Jamaican overproof rum. It did not disappoint!
4th February 2024 at 21:54
It takes an assertive spirit to stand up to Campari in an equal parts drink, but Smith & Cross is more than up for the task. This is a great drink, deftly balancing funk and bitterness with the underlying support of sweetness from the vermouth.
11th January 2024 at 14:39
Had this awhile back with Smith & Cross; it's good... Just tried this twice with Hamilton 151. 3/4 parts 151 to one part of the other two was the best blend... I'm dreaming of trying 1.5 parts Doctor Bird in this, hmm. Will report back. (11 Jan 2024, 9:38a)
22nd December 2023 at 20:30
Pretty much like inhaling the smoke of a jungle fire, in the best possible way.
16th December 2023 at 00:19
Made this with Wray and Nephew, it's a wonderful drink with a mix of amazing flavours, the overpowering funk of the rum and the bitterness of the Campari blend with each other into something amazing. Highly recommended as a way to get all the best flavours from the rum.
30th April 2023 at 23:51
We love rum. We love Jamaican rum. We love overproof rum. Of all the Negroni variations we have tried this is our favourite. The rum is front and center, but the bitters and vermouth add some softening of the Jamaican funk. Of all the negroni variations, this is the one will have over and over. Thanks for bringing this cocktail to our attention.
23rd September 2022 at 15:42
Made one with 20ml Cocchi vermouth and 10ml Monin Falernum. Lovely drink!
5th March 2022 at 15:54
I like upping the Smith & Cross to 1 1/4, decreasing the Campari to 3/4, and using Cocchi Vermouth di Torino. Creates a cocktail that's almost savory, but still has sweet notes & hopefully gives you what you want. Recipe from Taran Rosenthal, Durham area, NC, USA. It might be my favorite cocktail of all.
16th November 2020 at 09:27
can we use bacardi aged rum instead ?
16th November 2020 at 18:10
Hardly a "Kingston" Negroni but I've just tried with Bacardi 8-Year-Old and delicious.
Anonymous
8th October 2020 at 01:43
I haaaaate this drink. It has absolutely no semblance of a negroni. I sprung for the carpano antica, Smith and cross, and campari, and all you get is a slightly bitter glass of good Jamaican rum on ice.
The pot still rum absolutely steamrolls any and all subtleties of the vermouth and the campari. None of the lovely herbal bracing bitterness, just banana bread with a slightly dry, bitter finish. Unbelievably one note for the quality of ingredients.
I drank it, but never making another.
The pot still rum absolutely steamrolls any and all subtleties of the vermouth and the campari. None of the lovely herbal bracing bitterness, just banana bread with a slightly dry, bitter finish. Unbelievably one note for the quality of ingredients.
I drank it, but never making another.
30th May 2024 at 23:12
Carpano Antica is a different style of vermouth than what this recipe calls for (at least as it's written now), so perhaps that threw off the balance? I just made it with Smith & Cross, Dolin Rouge, & Campari and I can taste all 3 ingredients.
14th July 2021 at 00:22
Never heard of anything being able to steamroll Campari, but I do tend to split my Smith and Cross with Plantation 5 to mellow it out.
I used Planteray Xaymaca Special Dry, Campari, and Cocchi Vermouth (half portion)....Divine!