Negroni Week runs through Sunday, Sept. 27, and there’s no rule saying you have to make the classic. Gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth in equal parts is a perfect drink. It’s also a great starting point for playing around.
Waterloo Gin has two Texas-leaning versions worth trying at home this week.
If the name is new to you, Waterloo was the first gin distilled in Texas. It launched in 2009 at Treaty Oak Distilling in Dripping Springs and takes its name from Austin’s original name, before the city was renamed for Stephen F. Austin. Patrón founder John Paul DeJoria bought the brand in 2024, but the gin is still made in the Hill Country. The flagship No. 9 goes light on juniper and heavy on Texas botanicals like lavender, grapefruit, and pecan.
The Roasted Coconut Negroni is the one for cooler nights. It uses Waterloo’s Barrel Aged Gin, which spends two years in American oak and picks up vanilla and warm spice along the way, so it drinks a little like a whiskey Negroni.
To make it, add 1 ounce of Waterloo Barrel Aged Gin, 1 ounce of Campari, ¾ ounce of sweet vermouth, ¼ ounce of Malibu rum, and a dash of Mexican chocolate or walnut bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir until cold, strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, and top it with a shaving of coconut.
The Pink Negroni goes the other direction. It’s built on Waterloo’s Prickly Pear & Rose Gin, which joined the lineup in 2025 and gets its color and a touch of natural sweetness from prickly pear, rose petals, and hibiscus. Think patio, not fireplace.
Stir 1½ ounces of the Prickly Pear & Rose Gin with 1 ounce of pink vermouth (Waterloo uses La Fuerza’s Primavera), 1 ounce of Lillet Rosé, and a few dashes of grapefruit bitters over ice. Strain into a rocks glass with ice and garnish with a grapefruit peel.
If you miss the bitterness of a traditional Negroni, try Waterloo’s variation. Use 1 ounce each of the Prickly Pear & Rose Gin, Campari, and Lillet Blanc, stirred and served the same way. It’s a lot closer to the original, with a floral finish.
Waterloo Gin is sold at select retailers nationwide, and you can find the nearest one or order online at waterloogin.com. You’ve got until Sunday. Pick one and get stirring.
