Professional photograph of a Boulevardier cocktail with garnish in elegant bar setting

Cocktail

Boulevardier

Der Boulevardier ist ein eleganter Cocktail, der aus Bourbon oder Rye-Whiskey, süßem Wermut und Campari besteht. Diese harmonische Mischung vereint die bittersüßen Aromen des Campari mit der Wärme des Whiskeys und der Komplexität des Wermuts, was ihn zu einem perfekten Aperitif macht. Serviert wird er oft auf Eis in einem gekühlten Glas, garniert mit einer Orangenscheibe oder einer Kirsche.

  • bitter
  • rauchig
  • süß
  • würzig
James
By JamesSpirits & Whiskey ExpertPublished Reviewed
Prep Time
4 min
Glass
Martini Glass
Difficulty
Easy
ABV
28%
Yields
1 serving
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Nur wenige cocktail Rezepte bieten dieses bitter and rauchig Erlebnis wie der Boulevardier. Mit Whiskey als Basis ist er in etwa 4 Minuten fertig. Eines der meistgeklickten Rezepte: "Cocktailparty".

Key Takeaways

What you’ll learn

  • The Boulevardier is essentially a whiskey Negroni — same structure of spirit, Campari, and sweet vermouth, but bourbon or rye replaces gin for a richer, more spirit-forward cocktail.
  • Created in 1920s Paris by American expat Erskine Gwynne and first printed by Harry McElhone in "Barflies and Cocktails" (1927).
  • Bourbon creates a sweeter, smoother drink; rye delivers spicy complexity that stands its ground against Campari's assertive bitterness.
  • The classic ratio is 1.25:1:1 (spirit-forward), unlike the Negroni's equal-parts formula, to ensure the whiskey shines through.
  • Fresh sweet vermouth, refrigerated and used within 3–4 weeks, is as critical to the Boulevardier's quality as the whiskey itself.

Ingredients

Serves
1 serving
Glass
Martini Glass
Prep
4 min
  • 1 ozCampari
  • 1 ozSweet Vermouth
  • 1 1/4 ozRye whiskey
  • 1Orange Peel

Method

Preparation

  1. 01

    Rühren Sie mit Eis, abseihen, garnieren und servieren.

Origin

History & Origins

For decades the Boulevardier languished in obscurity, overshadowed by its gin-based cousin, the Negroni. But in recent years this forgotten classic from 1920s Paris has experienced a remarkable renaissance. The drink first appeared in print in Harry McElhone's 1927 book "Barflies and Cocktails," where it was named after Erskine Gwynne, an American expat and socialite who was a regular at Harry's New York Bar in Paris.

Gwynne, a wealthy Boston-born writer, had moved to Paris after World War I and founded a monthly magazine called "The Boulevardier" in 1927, chronicling the lives of American expats during the Jazz Age — the same creative community that included Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein. A boulevardier in French parlance is a man-about-town who frequents fashionable establishments and appreciates the finer things in life. Gwynne embodied this archetype, and McElhone created or adapted the cocktail in his honor. The drink itself represents a marriage of cultures: American whiskey meeting Italian Campari and vermouth in a Parisian bar frequented by expatriates.

Gwynne, a wealthy Boston-born writer, had moved to Paris after World War I and founded a monthly magazine called "The Boulevardier" in 1927, chronicling the lives of American expats during the Jazz Age — the same creative community that included Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein.

After its 1920s and 30s moment, the Boulevardier largely disappeared while the Negroni remained popular in Italy. It wasn't until the craft cocktail revival of the early 2000s that bartenders rediscovered it in old cocktail books. Today the Boulevardier is a staple in quality cocktail bars worldwide, finally receiving the recognition it deserves as a sophisticated alternative to the Negroni that whiskey lovers find irresistible.

Bartender’s Insight

Pro Tips

Verwenden Sie Roggen oder Bourbon mit ausreichender Alkoholstärke (90+ Alkohol), um Camparis kräuterartige Intensität zu durchbrechen, ohne in der Mischung zu verschwinden

From James

  • Rühren Sie 30-40 Sekunden lang mit Premium-Eis um, um die richtige Kühlung und Verdünnung zu erreichen, die die komplexen Geschmacksschichten des Getränks freisetzen

  • Servieren Sie in einem Coupe- oder Nick-&-Nora-Glas mit einem großen Eiswürfel und einer ausgedrückten Orangenschale, um Helligkeit und Öle hinzuzufügen, die die kräuter-bittere Grundlage ergänzen

At the Table

Perfect Pairings

Gegrilltes Steak mit Kräuterbutter
Gereifter Entenbrust
Salat mit bitteren Blättern und Walnüssen
Gereifter Comté-Käse

Beyond the Classic

Variations

Sazerac Boulevardier

Fügt nach dem Rühren einen Strich Absinth für Aniskomplexität hinzu, inspiriert von der Sazerac-Tradition

Mezcal Boulevardier

Ersetzt Mezcal durch Bourbon, um einen räuchrigeren, komplexeren Spirit-Forward-Cocktail zu schaffen

Armagnac Boulevardier

Verwendet Armagnac statt Bourbon für französische Brandy-Eleganz und weicheren Spirituosencharakter

Watch

See it in action

Questions

Frequently Asked

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