Boulevardier Cocktail
on Mar 04, 2022, Updated Sep 25, 2024
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The classic cocktail made with rye whiskey or bourbon, sweet vermouth, and Campari, garnished with a cherry and/or an orange twist!
Also known as Campari Manhattan, this cocktail originated early in the last century at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. The Boulevardier Cocktail is made with a shot of whiskey or bourbon and equal parts sweet vermouth and Campari. It’s kind of like a Negroni and a Manhattan had a little cocktail baby. Make sure your Boulevardier is ice cold — that’s one of the keys to this perfect cocktail.
This drink was the favorite tipple of a writer named Erskine Gwynne, who decamped for Paris from the U.S. in the 1920s. He became the editor of a paper called….The Boulevardier, and that’s how the drink got its name.
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A Boulevardier is defined in the dictionary as “a sophisticated, socially active man who frequents fashionable places.” A man about town…and by town, we mean Paris (hence the word Boulevard). And that’s pretty much who I picture sipping this drink (or a sophisticated, socially active woman who frequents fashionable places…either way). I also picture them eating a nice nibble such as Zucchini Fritti, Smoked Salmon Crostin with Herbed Mayo, or Mushroom Puff Pastry Tartlets with this lovely drink.
What's In This Post?
Boulevardier Cocktail: The classic cocktail made with whiskey or bourbon, sweet vermouth and Campari, garnished with a cherry and/or an orange twist!
What’s the Difference Between a Boulevardier and a Negroni?
The short answer is the booze. Both contain sweet vermouth and Campari, but the classic Boulevardier recipe contains a whiskey, while the Negroni is usually made with gin. Big difference! The whisky makes this drink perfect for those cooler months with its rich and warming flavors.
You may want to tinker slightly with the amounts of vermouth and Campari. The vermouth adds sweetness, and the Campari adds a bitter grapefruit rind flavor, so dial the amount of those liquors up and down as you wish.
Ingredients
- Bourbon or rye whiskey – Bourbon will offer sweet notes of caramel, oak, and vanilla. While rye whisky offers spicy, peppery, and bold flavors. Either will create a delicious cocktail; it just depends on what you prefer.
- Sweet vermouth – Balances out the flavors with a slightly sweet and spicy flavor. Sweet vermouth is preferred in this drink, and Carpano Antica is an Italian vermouth often used to make Boulevardiers.
- Campari – A type of Italian bitter, the slightly bittersweet flavor of Campari brings in flavors of orange, herbs, and spices.
- Orange rind twist – Incredibly easy and turns a good drink into a fancy and sophisticated drink. Some people prefer a lemon twist.
- Maraschino or marinated cherry – Adds to the aesthetic appeal and will provide a bit of sweetness.
How to Serve and Garnish a Boulevardier
A boulevardier is usually served on the rocks, preferably with one nice big ice cube. That is a nice way to keep it cold as you slowly sip it. You could also serve it neat or straight up, as long as it is well chilled first. If you serve it straight up, think about a martini glass.
A lemon or orange rind twist is the usual garnish, and you can add a maraschino or other marinated cherry to the mix for additional flavor and visual appeal. Try to find some nice upscale marinated cherries to use to give this drink a final sophisticated twist.
How To Make an Orange Twist
The orange zest strip is twisted over cocktails, and while it looks beautiful, it also releases potent oils and flavors of the drink. Use a vegetable peeler to remove strips about 2 inches long from the fruit. Make sure to remove only the bright orange zest and leave the bitter white pith behind. You can also do this by cutting off each nubby end of the fruit and using a sharp paring knife to carefully slice down the fruit, removing strips of the zest.
Twist the rind assertively over the glass to release the natural oils in the zest, and drop it into the glass.
How to Make a Boulevardier
Some bartenders like to stir their boulevardiers in a mixing glass, and some like to shake them in a cocktail mixer.
- Combine the alcohols: Pour the bourbon, sweet vermouth, and Campari into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake and strain: Shake the cocktail until the outside of the cocktail shaker gets frosty. Strain into a chilled rocks glass with an ice cube or two in it.
- Garnish and enjoy: Top with the orange peel and the cherry.
What to Serve With a Boulevardier Cocktail
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Boulevardier Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1 ounce Campari
- Orange rind twist
- Maraschino or marinated cherry
Instructions
- Pour the bourbon, sweet vermouth, and Campari into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, then strain into a chilled rocks glass with an ice cube or two in it.
- Garnish with the orange peel (give it a good twist over the glass before dropping it in), and add the cherry.
A cocktail like this that does not contain citrus juice, egg, or cream should be stirred not shaken.