In short: The best whisky for a Boulevardier depends on the style you’re after. Fruity, balanced single malts like The Glenlivet 12 Year Old and Founder’s Reserve create an approachable Whisky Negroni, while richer expressions such as The Glenlivet 15 Year Old or 18 Year Old add greater depth and complexity. The classic Boulevardier ingredients remain whisky, Campari and sweet vermouth.

A great cocktail comes from great ingredients. And with spirits being the key to an alcoholic beverage, it’s important to get them right.

Like many timeless classic cocktails, the Boulevardier is a simple recipe that relies on quality over quantity. Sometimes known as a Whisky Negroni, it’s a rich, full-bodied drink that dates back to the Prohibition era when an American writer in Paris shared his signature order, naming it after his monthly publication.

Just three ingredients are combined to achieve the Boulevardier’s warming taste, based on the original Negroni recipe. Instead of gin, equal parts whisky, sweet vermouth and Campari are combined, creating a richer layer of depth to the expected bittersweet flavour. Depending on the whisky used, this subtle yet significant twist transforms the drink, often adding a smoky or spiced after taste.

Whether you’re looking to make a Boulevardier at home or are finessing your bar order, it’s good to know the best ingredients to use to perfect this robust recipe. Here we share the best whiskies from The Glenlivet single malt collection to craft this sophisticated drink and take it to new heights.

A Boulevardier is a classic cocktail made with equal parts whisky, Campari and sweet vermouth. Often described as a whisky version of a Negroni, it swaps gin for whisky, creating a richer, warmer and more full-bodied drink while retaining the bittersweet character that made the Negroni famous.

A classic Boulevardier recipe contains:

30ml whisky

30ml Campari

30ml sweet vermouth

Orange twist to garnish

Stir all ingredients with ice, strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with an orange twist.

The Boulevardier and Negroni share two key ingredients: Campari and sweet vermouth. The difference is the base spirit. A Negroni uses gin, creating a lighter, more botanical flavour profile, while a Boulevardier uses whisky, resulting in a richer, smoother and more warming cocktail. If you enjoy the bittersweet character of a Negroni but want something deeper and more spirit-forward, the Boulevardier is an excellent alternative.

A Boulevardier can be made with any type of whisky. Many recipes call for the sweetness of bourbon, whilst others use rye for a spicier finish. Yet one of the most popular variations of the original classic is a Scotch Negroni, essentially a Boulevardier made with scotch whisky.

Produced in Scotland, scotch runs the full range of flavours from peated and smoky, to light, fruity and sweet. It’s the most versatile of whiskies, lending itself perfectly to all whisky cocktails.

The best whisky for a Boulevardier is one that can stand up to Campari’s bitterness without overpowering the vermouth. Fruity and slightly spicy single malts tend to work particularly well, creating balance while still allowing the whisky’s character to shine through. Richer whiskies produce a deeper, more robust cocktail, while lighter expressions create a brighter, more approachable serve.

Here’s the scotch whiskies we recommend using.

We make our Boulevardier with the deep, golden flavours of our 15 Year Old scotch. Distinctively rich, with notes of sweet fruit, spice and creamy almond. it pairs beautifully with the Negroni’s other ingredients.

Selectively matured in French oak casks results in a unique, pleasing spiciness. As one of the first to use French limousin oak for making whisky, we’ve perfected this technique to create the desired result: a lingering fruit and nut finish.

The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve is one of the easiest whiskies to use in a Boulevardier. Its creamy texture and notes of orange, pear and toffee apple complement both the sweetness of vermouth and the bitterness of Campari, creating a balanced and approachable cocktail.

This single malt is a tribute to our founder, George Smith and is made using the same time-honoured distillation methods that he introduced so long ago. Selective use of American first-fill oak casks are used, resulting in a smooth, sweetness.

An at home bar isn’t complete without a bottle of our 12 Year Old whisky. Perfectly smooth, sweetly spiced and lightly fruity, it’s our most versatile scotch yet, made for whisky cocktail hour. Stir it into a Boulevardier and then try it in other recipes such as an Old Fashioned or Whisky Sour.

First matured in traditional oak, it then spends time in American oak casks to impart hints of creamy vanilla. But what really stands out are the delicate yet complex notes of summery pineapple. It’s what the Original Malt Whisky Almanac calls “A first-class malt. One of the most popular malts in the world – deservedly so.”

Give the citrus sweetness of a Scotch Negroni a run for its money when you use The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve. It’s got all the original creamy smoothness of our signature single malts, but this time with a tropical twist.

Part finished in whisky barrels that previously held Caribbean rum, this is a scotch unlike any other. Sweet red apple and pear blend with exotic ripe banana and toffee syrup to create a well balanced, ultra smooth scotch you can sip all summer long.

If you’re looking to create a more refined Boulevardier, The Glenlivet 18 Year Old is an excellent choice. Matured in a combination of first and second-fill American oak and sherry casks, it brings exceptional depth and balance to the cocktail without overwhelming the classic Boulevardier ingredients.

Rich notes of ripe apricot, toffee and sweet orange are layered with gentle spice and oak, creating a whisky that stands up beautifully to Campari’s bitterness and sweet vermouth’s herbal complexity. The result is a smoother, more sophisticated Whisky Negroni with a long, elegant finish.

For special occasions, dinner parties or anyone who prefers a more spirit-forward Boulevardier, The Glenlivet 18 Year Old delivers a particularly luxurious take on this Prohibition-era classic.

Best overall: The Glenlivet 15 Year Old

Best for beginners: The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve

Best value: The Glenlivet 12 Year Old

Best for a tropical twist: The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve

Best for connoisseurs & special occasions: The Glenlivet 18 Year Old

Discover more of our collection of single malts from the best bottles to gift to a loved one to our rare whiskies from The Glenlivet Distillery. We’ve also got plenty more whisky cocktail recipes including fruity cocktails and bitter whisky drinks.