Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz Bourbon Whiskey
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in mixing glass with ice.
- Stir.
- Strain into chilled rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange twist and enjoy.
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The Boulevardier first appeared in print in Harry McElhone’s 1927 book ‘Barflies and Cocktails’, credited to Erskine Gwynne, an American socialite living in Paris. Gwynne also founded a literary magazine called The Boulevardier, hence the name.
It is essentially a bourbon Negroni – the same equal-parts structure with whiskey replacing gin. The result is heavier, oakier, and more autumnal than the Negroni. Excellent fireside, ordinary in summer.
What it tastes like
Bitter orange and herbs from the Campari, sweet plum and clove from the vermouth, oaky vanilla and caramel from the bourbon. The bourbon’s body softens the Campari bitterness more than gin does, giving you a fuller, rounder drink.
Drinks like a Negroni in winter clothes.
The technique
Equal parts bourbon, Campari, and sweet vermouth (typically 30ml each). Stir in a mixing glass with ice for 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel, expressed.
Stir, do not shake. Shaking aerates the drink, which is wrong for spirit-forward cocktails. The texture should be silky, not foamy.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Bourbon
- What it is
- American whiskey, minimum 51% corn, aged in new charred oak. Sweeter and softer than rye, which is the alternative.
- Why we use it here
- Replaces the gin in a Negroni. Bourbon’s vanilla and caramel notes complement the Campari herbs.
- Drink Lab pick
- Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Wild Turkey 101, or Old Forester all work. Anything in the $25-40 bottle range.
- Substitute
- Rye whiskey makes a drier, spicier Boulevardier – some prefer it. Tennessee whisky (Jack Daniel’s) works.
Campari
- What it is
- Italian bitter aperitivo, 25% ABV, made from a proprietary blend of herbs, spices, fruit, and bark. Launched 1860.
- Why we use it here
- Defining bitterness and structural backbone. Without it the drink is just whiskey and vermouth.
- Drink Lab pick
- Campari original. No real substitute.
- Substitute
- Aperol gives a softer, sweeter Boulevardier. Cynar gives a darker, more vegetal one. Both are valid alternatives but neither is a Boulevardier.
Variations
Whiskey + bitter cousins of the Boulevardier.
What if I don’t have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Rye whiskey works (drier, spicier). Tennessee whiskey (Jack Daniel’s) is fine. Avoid scotch – the smoke fights the Campari.
Aperol (softer), Cynar (darker), or Bonal (different but adjacent) all work.
Bonal, Punt e Mes, or any aperitif wine. Skip dry vermouth – this drink needs the sweetness.
Lemon peel changes the aroma but does not ruin the drink. Skipping garnish entirely is fine in a hurry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Boulevardier?
Is a Boulevardier the same as a Negroni?
Is a Boulevardier strong?
Who invented the Boulevardier?
What does a Boulevardier taste like?
What is the best bourbon for a Boulevardier?
Should you shake or stir a Boulevardier?
Can you make a Boulevardier in advance?
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