Two Boulvardier cocktails pictured from above.

Boulevardier Cocktail

Do you like a Negroni but wish you could have it with Bourbon? The Boulevardier is for you then! It's that simple; a Negroni but made with Bourbon. Very tasty.

Maybe you found this cocktail through our cocktail builder search engine looking for cocktails similar to a Negroni because you already had those ingredients on hand. You are in luck.

Although the Negroni is the more famous drink, in many ways, the Boulevardier is a more balanced cocktail as the Bourbon has some natural sweetness to it. Do a side by side tasting of a Boulvardier versus ad Negroni and see what you like. Perhaps you'll find a new favourite.

Total Time 3

Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients

45 mL Bourbon
30 mL Sweet Vermouth
30 mL Campari
Garnish with an orange peel (optional)

Instructions

Mix Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, and Campari in a mixing glass with lots of ice. Stir until the drink is chilled.
Strain into a Rocks glass with a single large ice cube or a few smaller ice cubes.
Garnish. Enjoy.

Notes

Bourbon quality is very important in this drink, so be sure to use a good one. The beauty of this cocktail is how the Bourbon plays with the Campari, it has a natural sweetness that combats the Campari's bitterness. Using a poor Bourbon will ruin this.

This recipe was created in the early 1900's and, unlike a lot of recipes of that age, its origins are actually known (probably). Erskine Gwynne, who was American but lived in Paris likely created the cocktail.

While we even acknowledge the Boulevardier's similarity to the Negroni, it's also acknowledged that it's a very different drink. We've already said it, but the Bourbon has such a different flavour, it just shapes things differently.

Our Review of the Boulevardier

It’s hard to decide which is a better cocktail, the Boulevardier or the Negroni. Both are well known and admired for their balance of bitter and sweetness. Sure, they’re very similar cocktails, but the difference between Gin and Bourbon alters the taste quite a bit.

A Negroni is a drier cocktail while the Boulevardier is a fair bit sweeter because of the Bourbon. And because of that, my thoughts are that the Boulevardier is the better cocktail.

Yes, the Negroni balances flavours very well, but my personal opinion is that it leans a little bit bitter. The little bit of extra sweetness afforded by the Bourbon gives this cocktail a true 50/50 balance of sweet and bitter.

Of course, if you like your cocktails on the more bitter side, you’re probably going to prefer a Negroni over a Boulevardier. But, while you wouldn’t call this cocktail sweet by any means, if you want to take any bitter edge off an otherwise wonderful cocktail, the Boulevardier is the way to go.

On a final note, I made this cocktail with Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Just like with the Negroni, the quality of the base spirit really matters. I may annoy some Bourbon lovers here, but the breadth of different flavours you can get out of different brands and style of Gin are a lot bigger than what you can get across Bourbons. Sure, different Bourbons can taste wildly different, but different styles of Gin use different botanicals that alter the flavour a lot more. While a bad Bourbon is going to make a bad cocktail, there’s more consistency with Bourbon as there’s a narrower flavour profile. And that’s why I love this cocktail.

10/10

Review by Chas

Do you love Bourbon and Whiskey based cocktails?

There’s plenty more for you to flick through if you’re looking for it. Check out the following:

Bourbon cocktail recipes – all of our Bourbon based cocktails (including the Boulevardier). There’s plenty there for you to enjoy!

Whiskey cocktail recipes – whether it’s Bourbon, Rye, or any other type of Whiskey, we have you covered.

Top 10 whiskey cocktails – in our opinion anyway… sure, you may have some different opinions, and that’s OK. If you’re unsure what other cocktails to make, this is where to start.