Tequila Negroni (aka Tegroni Or Rosita Cocktail)

Tequila Negroni is a fun variation of our favorite classic cocktail. It’s made with tequila instead of gin and garnished with a lime peel for a little Mexican fusion. There’s also the option to make this a spicy tequila Negroni.

Two Tequila Negronis on a marble countertop. - 1

This tequila-spiked cocktail is one of my favorite twists on the classic Negroni . As much as I adore a traditional Negroni, I also love playing with variations—and this one came about the night I ran out of gin and decided to get creative. Turns out, tequila works beautifully here, with its earthy, agave-forward flavor sliding right into the bittersweet balance of a Negroni.

Around here, I usually just call it a tequila Negroni—we’re fancy like that. You’ll also hear it called a Tegroni or Agavoni (agave + Negroni). And while it’s sometimes lumped in with a Rosita, that cocktail technically uses a mix of sweet and dry vermouth. No matter the name, this tequila version is bold, balanced, and absolutely worth adding to your cocktail rotation.

If you love Negroni variations as much as I do, also try my mezcal Negroni .

Ingredient notes

Tequila – I prefer blanco tequila (white tequila) for making this Negroni variation. While you don’t need to go top-shelf for a mixed drink, make sure that you buy a tequila you enjoy drinking. The better the ingredients, the better the Negroni.
Sweet vermouth – The flavor of sweet vermouth can vary depending on the brand you buy, but even a low-priced bottle will make a great tequila Negroni.
Campari – This is a bitter Italian liquor that gives a Negroni its signature color and flavor.
Ancho Reyes – This is an OPTIONAL ingredient. Ancho Reyes is a spicy Mexican liquor made from ancho and poblano chiles. Another wonderful Negroni variation is to add an ounce of Ancho Reyes to your cocktail. It will make it deliciously spicy!

The ingredients to make a Tequila Negroni on a marble countertop. - 2

A glass of tequila negroni cocktail with a large ice cube and a lime twist garnish, served in a faceted glass on a white surface. - 3

How to make a Tegroni for a crowd

Negronis are an excellent party drink because they’re widely loved, simple to make, and incredibly easy to batch. Just mix equal parts of each ingredient with a little ice in a pitcher, then set it out with short glasses so guests can help themselves. I love placing a small bowl of dehydrated lime wheels or orange slices beside the pitcher so everyone can garnish their own drink.

You can make as much or as little as you need. For a small gathering, mix 1 cup tequila + 1 cup Campari + 1 cup sweet vermouth . For a larger crowd, simply double (or triple) it. This is one of those cocktails that scales up or down effortlessly, making it perfect for entertaining.

How to garnish a tequila Negroni

Traditionally, a Negroni is garnished with a slice of orange zest. But when I make a Negroni with tequila, we like to use a strip of lime peel.

Lime and tequila are well-known partners, and they pair up well in this Mexican version of a Negroni. The lime zest imparts a wonderful aroma when you take a sip of the drink, which seems to bring out the tequila flavor.