The Boulevardier Recipe (2024)

Ratings

4

out of 5

1,067

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Andy Dufresne

The Boulevardier, like its cousin the Negroni, is a fantastic cocktail for a sophisticated palate. This recipe is excellent, but differs from the 1-1-1 proportions of the classic recipe. I strongly prefer it made with rye whiskey.

SteveAC10

There's a bar/restaurant in suburban Minneapolis that serves what is essentially a Boulevardier that adds the Campari in the form of an ice cube skewered together with Luxardo cherries. Ingenious really, because the drink stays cool but doesn't get watered down as the ice melts. The roblem is they go down far too easily.

MarkL

I actually made the 1:1:1 version found elsewhere. I used rye and it was delicious, but a little too sweet. I added a few drops of orange bitters and it was even better. I will keep experimenting.

NLC

bool'-vahr--dee-ay.

Steven's Wine and Food Blog

I agree with your proportions, Andy. I have also moved off Campari to Aperitivo. That red dye in Campari can’t be good for you. In addition, Aperitivo is more herbal, adding complexity to the cocktail.

John V

Made this with rye and it was fantastic. Will try it with bourbon tonight. Tried one of these with Martini and Rossi a few weeks ago and it was awful. Went and got Carpano Antica and what a difference. I could drink a million of these. REFRIGERATE YOUR VERMOUTH!

Jojo

Delicious! Plus, because the proportions are so simple it's easy to make for a crowd.

Kim

I prefer it with an orange twist. Delicious either way.

gordon

I've been making these for quite some time. I prefer the simpler 1:1:1 ratio with rye. I also drop in a good cherry like a Luxardo.

VinceGraceFood

This was excellent. Probably too sweet for me with Bourbon, but I made again with Rye and it was perfect

Wes Clavey

Made with rye, this is called My Old Pal. I have made many variations of this drink but my favorites are using bacon infused rye or bacon infused bourbon. In addition, Leopold Brothers makes a good apertif alternative to Campari that complements the whiskey nicely.

Mike Czechowski

Love these proportions with 100 proof Knob Creek rye. This is now one of my favorite cocktails - along with the Negroni itself!

Dave Paley

In the "classic" recipe (1-1-1) the Campari completely overwhelms. In this variation (2-1-1) it still dominates - Campari is very strong. I recommend proportions of 2-1-1/2.

robWeeve,

pinterest it under "cocktails"

Nicole

Excellent this way. My winter drink when it's too cold for a negroni or a whiskey sour

Jeff

Just made one, added the hickory smoke. ShaZamm

Guy

This is a lovely drink. We added a few drops of lemon juice. It tempers the bitters.

Sonia

Too much whiskey. Really delicious but would probably not make me fall asleep if 1:1:1. Maybe keep ratio but make a smaller drink.

sheri

This is probably my favorite cocktail. I prefer the 1:1:1 ratio, and have to drink these with caution. They’re very potent. IMO it’s better with Bullet Rye and Carpano Antico Vermouth, along with Campari and a slice of orange zest. Cheers!

emma b

Cocchi vermouth is the way to go. Cinzano is awful and carpano is very good but overpriced.

John V

Made this with rye and it was fantastic. Will try it with bourbon tonight. Tried one of these with Martini and Rossi a few weeks ago and it was awful. Went and got Carpano Antica and what a difference. I could drink a million of these. REFRIGERATE YOUR VERMOUTH!

C

Different vermouths have different profiles. M&R works for some drinks, but not all. Noilly Pratt has a different profile from Dolin and I prefer one over the other depending on the other liquor in the drink. For example, Noilly is great with whiskey or vodka, but not so with gin, which works well with Dolin.

G from Jersey

Terrific but recommend milder Canadian whisky....

brutallyfrank

When made with rye instead of bourbon, it's an Old Pal. A recipe for which also appears on this site.https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12522-old-pal

G from Jersey

@brutallyfrank I see that. But believe with rye (per my comment - believe Canadian whiskey is the way to go) is still the same drink. WineEnthusiast agreed on January 9, 2021.

todd sf

Boulevardiers and Negronis are on my short list of “go to” cocktails- they never get old. I enjoy experimenting with all the varieties of sweet Vermouths currently out there, Antica Formula being just one of many possibilities. A recent favorite is the Blood Orange Mommenpop Vermouth out of Napa- Nice and bright, it adds real verve to whichever your making …

John

I've always made these with a nice large orange peel shave, twisted, and just mix it on the rocks directly. sometimes I add some soda like pellegrino into a taller glass.

Olivia

Followed the recipe portions of 2-1-1 and preferred it to 1-1-1, but added a couple drops of orange bitters as others suggested and loved the depth of flavor it added. Will definitely make again!

JayRE

I'll give this a go, it looks right up my street. However, "something richer and more complex than just a whiskey " ... oh dear.

lily kumpe

Made this along with the 1:1:1 version. Then my husband and I blind taste-tested the two. Even though my husband is biased against the nytimes, it was unanimous; we both prefer the nytimes recipe and even doctored up the other to match.

Andrew Bor

Perfect proportions with 80proof bourbon or rye; a touch austere with the 100proof Knob Creek rye - will try making the proportions closer to 1:1:1

Private notes are only visible to you.

The Boulevardier Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is Boulevardier better with bourbon or rye? ›

Most recipes utilize bourbon, though some people prefer the spicier quality of rye whiskey. Both have their charms, but today you're most likely to find the Boulevardier made with bourbon.

What is a good substitute for Campari in a Negroni? ›

Luxardo Bitter

The strongly flavored, bitter-orange, rhubarb, marjoram, and thyme liqueur is robust enough to handle juniper-heavy gins and sweet, viscous vermouths. Luxardo also makes a Bitter Bianco for those who prefer a White Negroni.

What does a Boulevardier taste like? ›

It's bittersweet, warming, and spicy, an Italian villa in the snowy Colorado Rockies. It tastes the way illustrations in a 100-year-old book look. It tastes like old leather feels or how whispered confessions of love sound.

Can you substitute vodka for gin in a Negroni? ›

Tucci says you can use vodka instead and lace a little gin on top of the drink to give it just a bit of flavor. Then, Tucci adds a shot of sweet vermouth and suggests picking up a good brand if you can find one.

What cocktail is similar to the Boulevardier? ›

The Old Pal is the bitter, spiced cousin of the Boulevardier, combining Campari, whisky and dry vermouth. It's another result of the Parisian cocktail scene, originating in Harry's New York Bar during the Prohibition era. The swap from sweet to dry vermouth results in a lighter, sharper serve.

Is rye whiskey smoother than bourbon? ›

Rye: Rye has a spicier taste. Many feel that it has notes of grass and pepper, as well as oak, smoke, and fruit. Bourbon: Most will agree that bourbon has a sweeter taste than rye with notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak. Bourbon has an overall lighter and smoother taste than rye.

Is Negroni better with Aperol or Campari? ›

Aperol is less bitter than Campari and has a sweeter and fruitier flavor, meaning this cocktail will have a subtle sweetness to it. Campari has noticeably bitter and herbal flavors by comparison. These notes are good to keep in mind when deciding which variation of a Negroni you prefer mixing.

What is Negroni without gin called? ›

Negroni Sbagliato

This lighter styled Negroni has some bitterness but lacks the gin punch and character of the original Negroni.

Is Campari just bitters? ›

Second are the Aperitif Bitters – such as Campari or Aperol. These liqueurs are characterized by a bitter, or bitter-sweet taste, they are best consumed before a meal – to open up and enhance the appetite. Their colour is typically a stimulating red or orange, and their alcohol volume can be lower than other liqueurs.

Does Campari go bad? ›

Your Campari will never truly go bad if kept in a cool, dry place. If you are storing half-empty bottles in the light for over a year, you may notice changes owing to oxidization and an eventual evaporation, but the Campari itself is still safe to enjoy.

What came first, Negroni or Boulevardier? ›

Sometimes mistakenly called a whiskey Negroni, the Boulevardier is actually believed to predate the Negroni.

What glass is a Boulevardier served in? ›

What does Negroni mean in Italian? ›

Etymology. Borrowed from Italian negroni, from surname Italian Negroni, from Italian negri (“black”) + Italian -oni (“(ablative) from, of”). The origin of the drink's name is disputed, most often attributed to being named after Count Camillo Negroni (1868–1934), who asked for an early form of this cocktail.

What is stronger Negroni or Old Fashioned? ›

Old-Fashioned — (38.09%, 2.44oz in volume, 0.93oz alcohol) Bloody Mary — (12%, 7.5oz in volume, 0.9oz alcohol) Negroni — (20.13%, 4oz in volume, 0.81oz alcohol)

Which vermouth for Negroni? ›

However, the perfect Negroni should only ever be made on a red, sweet, Italian-style vermouth, preferably with some 'weight' to it and enough spice to hold up against the Campari. We recommend small batch vermouths such as Cinzano 1757 or Cinzano Rosso.

Should an Old Fashioned be made with bourbon or rye? ›

Consequently, some traditionalists insist an Old-Fashioned should be made with rye, but bourbon is equally correct and the choice of whiskey should be entirely up to the personal taste of the drinker. Bourbon makes a mellow, slightly sweeter drink, while rye adds more spice and kick.

Does a Manhattan use bourbon or rye? ›

Although the original New York cocktail ingredients call for American Rye, bartenders from across the US have quickly adopted a substitution for the spirit with a Bourbon Manhattan variant. The use of either spirit creates a hint of complexities that other classic aromatic cocktails cannot match.

Can I use rye instead of bourbon? ›

Rye whiskey and bourbon are often thrown together, mentioned in the same breath as if they're one and the same, and can be used as such. However, while the two whiskeys are pretty similar and often appear in the same cocktails, there are still some differences.

Do you use rye or bourbon for whiskey sour? ›

Bourbon Is Best

If you love rye whiskey in your sour, go for it. But there's something about the softer, vanilla and caramel notes of bourbon that does the drink right. “With rye, there's more spice,” says McCoy.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Dong Thiel

Last Updated:

Views: 6103

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dong Thiel

Birthday: 2001-07-14

Address: 2865 Kasha Unions, West Corrinne, AK 05708-1071

Phone: +3512198379449

Job: Design Planner

Hobby: Graffiti, Foreign language learning, Gambling, Metalworking, Rowing, Sculling, Sewing

Introduction: My name is Dong Thiel, I am a brainy, happy, tasty, lively, splendid, talented, cooperative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.