Boulevardier Cocktail Recipe

Transport yourself to 1920’s Paris with a single sip of this deep and delicious drink! Mix up a simple Boulevardier cocktail tonight.

If we’re speaking French, a boulevardier translates to a well-do-to socialite, someone who frequently strolls the boulevards of Paris. A “man about town.”

But if we’re speaking cocktail? Boulevardier means you’re in for a delicious treat that feels both sophisticated and incredibly drinkable.

Let’s make a Boulevardier cocktail!

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The History of the Boulevardier Cocktail

In the 1920’s, a man named Erskine Gwynne published a magazine for expats living in Paris.

Gwynne just so happened to be a regular at Harry MacElhone’s bar, and if you’ve been studying your cocktail history in our cocktails series you know that Harry is responsible for publishing and canonizing so many classic cocktails in his books!

The name of Gwynne’s magazine was “Boulevardier,” and so Harry credited the cocktail to Gwynne and named it in his honor.

Cocktails to Try

Once you’ve mixed a Boulevardier cocktail, let’s keep the party going!

I took a moment to round up some of our most popular (and my favorite!) cocktail recipes. Be sure to pin or bookmark your favorites so that you can find them easily when you’re ready to mix it up.

• Paloma Cocktail Recipe
• French Gimlet Cocktail Recipe
• Old Cuban Cocktail Recipe
• Dirty Shirley Cocktail Recipe
• Tinto de Verano Drink Recipe
• Hugo Spritz Recipe
• Spaghett Cocktail Recipe (The New Aperol Spritz!)

Ingredients You’ll Need

A Boulevardier is incredibly easy to make; it’s actually just a Negroni, with bourbon substituted for the gin. Easy!

Bourbon. When you’re mixing bourbon into your Boulevardier, choose your favorite bottle. Some folks even prefer the spicer taste of a rye whiskey.

Campari. This is what brings the slight bitterness to the cocktail.

Sweet Vermouth. Sweet vermouth balances out the bitter Campari and balances the drink.

Orange Garnish. An orange twist adds the finishing touch.

How to Make a Boulevardier Cocktail

Mixing a Boulevardier is simple, because it was initially a balanced cocktail! This means that each ingredient is added in equal parts.

However, if you find that the bitterness of the Campari overpowers the drink, you can bump up the measurements. This is reflected in the measurements below.

1. Add ice to a rocks glass.
2. Into the glass, pour 1 1/4 oz. of bourbon, 1 oz. of Campari, and 1 oz. of sweet vermouth.
3. Gently stir to mix, and until the drink is chilled.
4. Slice off a bit of orange peel and twist it over the glass to release the citrus oils. Twist the peel and place it into the glass as a garnish.

What Does a Boulevardier Taste Like?

Because the Boulevardier cocktail uses bourbon (as opposed to the Negroni’s gin), you’ll experience a flavor that’s more deep and rich.

This deeper, earthy flavor is a lovely balance to the Campari and it makes the drink feel more like fall than summer.

Picture deep leather armchairs, strolling through the Parisian streets at evening, and just the right balance of warming and spicy feels.

I hope you enjoy! Cheers. xoxo