How to Make a Boulevardier: The Bourbon Lover's Negroni

If you love a Negroni but you've never tried a Boulevardier, you're in for a treat. It's the same structure — spirit, sweet vermouth, Campari — but built around bourbon instead of gin. The result is richer, slightly sweeter, and far more approachable for whiskey drinkers who aren't sold on gin.

The recipe

1.5 oz bourbon, 1 oz Campari, 1 oz sweet vermouth. Combine in a mixing glass with ice and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube, or up into a coupe. Garnish with an orange peel or a brandied cherry.

Stirred, not shaken

Like the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan, the Boulevardier is a stirred cocktail. Shaking it over-dilutes the drink and muddies the flavor. Stir until the outside of the mixing glass is cold and slightly frosted, then strain.

Best bourbons for a Boulevardier

You want a bourbon with enough backbone to hold up against the bitterness of the Campari. A high-rye bourbon works beautifully here — Four Roses Single Barrel or Bulleit Rye cut right through the sweetness. If you prefer something rounder, Knob Creek or Wild Turkey 101 are great picks. Avoid anything too light or too sweet or it'll get lost.

Rye vs. bourbon

Technically you can use rye whiskey instead of bourbon for a drier, spicier version. It's closer to the original pre-Prohibition recipe. Try it both ways and see which you prefer — that's the kind of side-by-side tasting we love doing at LC events.

Want to build a full whiskey cocktail flight for your group? Book a private LC tasting at theliquorconnoisseur.com.