Contessa Cocktail

The Contessa is an elegant and sophisticated cocktail that serves as a delightful alternative to its famous cousin, the Negroni. By substituting the bitter Campari with the slightly sweeter and more orange-forward Aperol, and the rich sweet vermouth with a crisp dry vermouth, it achieves a lighter profile. The result is a beautifully balanced, aromatic, and refreshing apéritif with a complex interplay of botanicals, citrus, and gentle bitterness.
Contessa Cocktail

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Contessa is a modern classic cocktail. It is typically served as an apéritif, meant to be enjoyed before a meal to stimulate the appetite. It belongs to the family of stirred, spirit-forward drinks.

Serving

The Contessa is a compact, spirit-forward drink served chilled and straight up in a coupe or Nick & Nora glass. Its alcohol content is significant but well-integrated, making for a smooth sip.
Serving size
Approximately 90 ml or 3 oz (before dilution)
Alcohol content
Approximately 25-28% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe or Nick & Nora
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The Contessa was created in the early 2000s by bartenders John Gertsen and Tory Casey at Drink in Boston. It was conceived as a softer, more approachable version of the Negroni. The name "Contessa," meaning "Countess" in Italian, is a fitting feminine counterpart to the Negroni's namesake, Count Camillo Negroni.
Origin
Created in Boston, USA, around the early 2000s at the bar named Drink.

Contessa Cocktail

The drink is primarily known as the Contessa. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a variation of the White Negroni, though the classic White Negroni uses Suze or Lillet Blanc instead of Aperol and dry vermouth.
Original name
Contessa
Alternative name
White Negroni

Characteristics overview

The Contessa presents a bright, citrusy flavor with herbal undertones and a pleasant bittersweet balance. It has a silky texture and a clean, aromatic finish, making it a refreshing choice year-round.
Flavor
Citrusy, Herbal, Botanical, Lightly bitter, Subtly sweet, Orange peel
Aroma
Floral, Juniper, Orange zest, Herbal
Taste balance
Bittersweet, Aromatic
Aftertaste
Clean, Lingering bitterness, Herbal finish
Fizziness
Still
Color appearance
Pale orange, Rosy pink, Clear, Bright
Texture
Silky, Smooth, Medium-bodied
Seasonality
Refreshing, All-season, Summery

Flavor intensity & Experience

The drink is characterized by a prominent bittersweet and fruity profile, with a noticeable alcohol strength. It is not sweet, creamy, or spicy, and has no carbonation.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This is a simple three-ingredient cocktail requiring equal parts of Gin, Aperol, and Dry Vermouth. The quality of each component is key to the final taste.
  • Gin30 ml / 1 oz
    A London Dry Gin with classic juniper and citrus notes works well.
  • Aperol30 ml / 1 oz
    The key ingredient providing the drink's signature bittersweet orange flavor.
  • Dry Vermouth30 ml / 1 oz
    Use a fresh, quality dry vermouth for its floral and herbal notes.

Ice type

  • Cubed ice for stirring

Mixing equipments

Standard stirring equipment is required: a mixing glass, a bar spoon for chilling and dilution, a jigger for measurement, and a strainer.
  • Mixing glass for combining and chilling the ingredients.
  • Bar spoon for stirring the cocktail.
  • Jigger for measuring ingredients accurately.
  • Strainer (Julep or Hawthorne) for pouring into the glass without ice.

Instructions

The preparation involves chilling the glass, combining equal parts of all three ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, and stirring until cold. Finally, strain into the glass and garnish by expressing a citrus peel over the top.
1. Chill your serving glass (a coupe or Nick & Nora) by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.
2. Add the gin, Aperol, and dry vermouth to a mixing glass.
3. Fill the mixing glass with cubed ice.
4. Stir with a bar spoon for about 20-30 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted.
5. Discard the ice from your chilled serving glass.
6. Strain the contents of the mixing glass into the chilled serving glass.
7. Take a fresh peel of orange or grapefruit, hold it over the drink with the colored side down, and pinch it to express the citrus oils onto the surface.
8. Drop the peel into the glass or discard it, as preferred. Serve immediately.

Garnishing

Garnish with a fresh swath of orange or grapefruit peel, expressing the oils over the surface of the drink to enhance its citrus aroma.
  • Orange peel or grapefruit peel, express the oils over the drink.

Dietary Information

This cocktail is alcoholic and generally considered free from common allergens like caffeine, dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, and gluten. It is also suitable for both vegan and vegetarian diets, assuming vegan-friendly fining agents are used for the vermouth.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

A single serving contains approximately 170-190 calories, primarily from the alcohol. The carbohydrate and sugar content, around 9-11 grams, comes from the Aperol and vermouth.
Calories
Averagely 170-190 kcal / 711-795 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 9-11 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 9-11 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfect for aperitivo hour or as a sophisticated pre-dinner drink. Its refreshing and appetite-stimulating qualities also make it a great choice for social gatherings and cocktail parties, especially during warmer months.
  • Pre-dinner drink
  • Aperitivo hour
  • Cocktail party
  • Summer evening

Pairing suggestions

The Contessa's bittersweet profile pairs beautifully with savory and salty foods. It's an excellent companion for a charcuterie board, olives, light cheeses, or seafood appetizers.
  • Salty snacks like olives or nuts
  • Cured meats (charcuterie)
  • Light cheeses
  • Seafood appetizers like oysters or shrimp cocktail

The Contessa Cocktail: An Elegant Negroni Riff

The Contessa cocktail is a modern classic that offers a refined and more delicate alternative to the ubiquitous Negroni. It balances the botanicals of gin with the bright, bittersweet orange notes of Aperol and the floral crispness of dry vermouth. Served straight up in a chilled coupe, it's an elegant apéritif that is both visually appealing with its rosy hue and delightfully complex on the palate. Its simplicity in preparation belies a sophisticated flavor profile perfect for starting an evening.

Similar Cocktails

Negroni

The classic version. Uses Campari instead of Aperol and sweet vermouth instead of dry vermouth, resulting in a richer, more bitter profile.

White Negroni

Typically uses gin, Lillet Blanc (or another quinquinas), and Suze (a bitter gentian liqueur), creating a floral, earthy, and distinctly different bitter profile.

Americano

A low-ABV relative. Uses Campari and sweet vermouth, but tops it with soda water instead of gin.

You May Also Like

Jungle Bird

A sophisticated and complex tiki cocktail that perfectly balances the sweetness of pineapple, the bitterness of Campari, and the richness of dark rum.

Aperol Spritz

A vibrant and refreshing Italian aperitif with a bittersweet orange flavor, made with Aperol, Prosecco, and a splash of soda water.

Bee's Knees

A simple yet elegant Prohibition-era classic combining gin, fresh lemon juice, and sweet honey.

Blue Motorcycle

A potent and visually striking blue cocktail that's a citrus-forward variation of the Long Island Iced Tea.

Have You Tried These Yet?

Death in the Afternoon

A potent and aromatic cocktail made with absinthe and Champagne, famously invented by Ernest Hemingway.

Ritz Cocktail

An elegant and effervescent cocktail combining the richness of Cognac with bright citrus and a luxurious Champagne sparkle.

Brandy Rickey

A wonderfully crisp and refreshing highball that combines the smooth warmth of brandy with the sharp tang of fresh lime juice, all topped with bubbly soda water.

Angel Face

A perfectly balanced, spirit-forward classic cocktail with notes of apple, apricot, and juniper.