Americano

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Cocktail History

The Americano is a classic cocktail that was created in the 1860s at Gaspare Campari’s bar in Milan, Italy. The original recipe was called the Milano Torino, and it combined ingredients from both Italian cities—Campari from Milan and sweet vermouth from Turin—before it was eventually lengthened with soda water and became the version we now know as the Americano. Its name translates to “American style,” and it became known as such because expats especially enjoyed drinking them during Prohibition.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Campari: This is the base spirit. It’s a bitter Italian liqueur made with herbs, aromatic plants, fruit, alcohol, and water. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Giffard Aperitif Syrup in place of the Campari.

Sweet Vermouth: This is a fortified wine that adds sweetness. We used Noilly Prat Sweet Vermouth for its spicy notes and fruity flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Apéritif Rosso in place of the sweet vermouth.

Soda Water: This is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. It stretches the drink and adds fizz. We used Topo Chico because it’s light, essentially flavorless, and refreshing.

Orange Wedge: This is the garnish. It adds fresh citrus aroma and flavor when dropped into the drink.

Tasting Notes

The Americano features the aroma of lemony-orange Campari and a taste that’s a touch bitter initially but softens after a second with the sweet vermouth, and it has a subtle sweetness along with a lot of Campari’s signature bittersweet flavor on the aftertaste.

Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We were pretty split on this drink. Though not a fan of either ingredient, Kendall admitted this was fairly decent to her palate thanks to the soda water. Alex, on the other hand, is a longtime lover of this drink and finds himself mixing them up fairly regularly.

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Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I absolutely love the Americano, from the first time I tried it even before I really enjoyed Campari the way I do now. My interest in it goes back further than my love of cocktails though. I read about James Bond first drinking it in the novel Casino Royale (which he drank before the Vesper was even conceived, funnily enough), and it made me want to try it. Today, as a firm lover of Campari, sweet vermouth, and the Negroni, the Americano is a go-to when I’m seeking a lower-ABV drink to get me through the day and into the evening.”

—

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐
“My palate has not developed enough yet for me to enjoy a Negroni, but I must be getting closer because this Campari drink didn’t make me wince like others have in the past. The vermouth does a really good job of cutting the bitterness of the Italian liqueur. I’m still not a big fan of either ingredient in cocktails though, so ultimately I wouldn’t request this one again.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.

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The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks with 150 Recipes

Hardcover Book; Editors of PUNCH (Author); English (Publication Language); 352 Pages – 09/05/2017 (Publication Date) – Ten Speed Press (Publisher)

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AuthorThe Essential Cocktail Book

Make It a Mocktail: Use Giffard Aperitif Syrup in place of the Campari and Lyre’s Apéritif Rosso in place of the sweet vermouth to try a booze-free version of this drink.

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More Campari Cocktails

If you like this Campari cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:

Jungle Bird: A rum cocktail made with Campari, lime juice, simple syrup, pineapple juice, and a lime wheel

Garibaldi: A Campari cocktail made with orange juice and an orange slice

Old Pal: A whiskey cocktail made with dry vermouth, Campari, and an orange twist

Rhubarb & Gingerbread Negroni: A gin cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth, gingerbread syrup, and an orange peel

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