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Cocktail History
The Garibaldi is a classic cocktail that was created in Italy in the 1800s. Named for Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian general who helped to unify the country under one government, the recipe is traditionally made with just two ingredients: orange juice and the bitter Italian liqueur Campari. When combined, the drink has a striking red-orange color that is said to be representative of Garibaldi’s followers, who were known for wearing red shirts.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Orange Juice: This is the liquid juice of an orange. We used freshly squeezed orange juice.
Campari: This is a liqueur made in Italy with gentian root, rhubarb, citrus, herbs, aromatic plants, fruit, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Giffard Non-Alcoholic Bitter Syrup in place of the bitter liqueur.
Orange Slice: This is a slice of orange that has been cut into a half wheel shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Tasting Notes
The Garibaldi features notable orange aromas along with Campari’s signature sweet-bitter scent, tastes like a delicious blend of the citrus’s sweet flavors and the Italian liqueur’s biting bitterness, and finishes with these flavors and a slight dryness lingering in the throat.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: Although sweeter than most Campari drinks, Kendall still wasn’t a huge fan of this one; Alex certainly was though and will likely mix a Garibaldi for friends and family at many holiday brunches to come.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“I really liked this drink and knew I would just by looking at its list of ingredients. As someone who already enjoys Campari, I assumed going in that combining the orange juice’s sweet citrus notes with the liqueur and nothing else would be delicious, and I was right. While it doesn’t really present any intriguing flavors that are surprising, it does manage to transport me to lunching al fresco at an Italian café, and that’s an experience I’ll happily have any day.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐
“This is probably one of the simplest and sweetest Campari cocktails in existence, and I still found it to be too bitter for me to enjoy, which was surprising because my palate has come a long way in its development over the last year and a half. Maybe next year I’ll try this one again to see if I finally find Campari palatable!”
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.
Add orange juice, Campari, and cracked ice to a lowball glass.
Stir for 10-15 seconds.
Garnish with orange slice.
Ingredients
Directions
Add orange juice, Campari, and cracked ice to a lowball glass.
Stir for 10-15 seconds.
Garnish with orange slice.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Giffard Non-Alcoholic Bitter Syrup in place of the bitter liqueur 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:
Bicicletta: A white wine cocktail made with Campari, soda water, and a lemon wheel
Rhubarb & Gingerbread Negroni: A gin cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth, gingerbread syrup, and an orange peel
Desert Bird: A tequila and mezcal cocktail made with pineapple gum syrup, Campari, lime juice, saline solution, and a lime wheel
Old Pal: A rye cocktail made with dry vermouth, Campari, and an orange twist
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