Garibaldi

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Cocktail History

The Garibaldi is a simple yet somewhat unknown classic cocktail of unknown origin that was named for Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian general who helped to unify the country under one government in the 19th century.

The drink is traditionally made with equal parts orange juice and Campari, both of which come from Southern Italy and combine to create a striking red-orange color that is said to be representative of Garibaldi’s followers who were known for wearing red shirts. This version created by Naren Young of Dante in New York City, however, dials back the liqueur to a more universally palatable amount that still retains its delicious bittersweet note.

Cocktail Ingredients

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

Orange Juice: This adds sweet and slightly sour citrus flavor to balance out the bitterness of the Campari. We always use fresh citrus juice because it’s less bitter than the bottled stuff and tastes much better. 

Campari: Although relatively low-proof and technically a liqueur, this is the base spirit. It’s famous for adding its distinct bitter yet savory flavor to any drink.

Orange Slice: This is the garnish. It is dropped into the drink to add more fresh citrus aroma and flavor.

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 these up for friends and family at the holiday brunches to come.

Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“I really liked this drink and knew I would just by looking at its list of ingredients. As an enjoyer of 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 cafe, and that’s an experience I’ll happily have any day.”

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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.

Tools & Glassware We Recommend

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