Americano
Bitter, light, sparkling.
Campari and sweet red vermouth in equal parts, lengthened with a splash of soda. Lighter than the Negroni, it keeps the same bittersweet soul and drinks crisp, with citrus peel as a counterpoint.
- IBA · The Unforgettables
- Aperitif
- Built
- Glass
- Rocks glass
- Method
- Built
- Strength
- Light
- Time
- 2 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Ice
- Cubes
Ingredients
Measures for 1 serving
-
Campari
30 ml
-
Sweet red vermouth
30 ml
-
Soda water
top up
Garnish
- Half orange slice
- Lemon twist
Proportions
How to make
- Fill an old fashioned glass with ice.
- Pour the Campari.
- Pour the sweet red vermouth.
- Add a splash of soda water.
- Stir gently.
- Garnish with half an orange slice and a lemon zest.
The story
Origins
ProbableA plausible account, without definitive proof.
The Americano was born in Italy from the meeting of vermouth and bitter. Its direct ancestor is the Milano-Torino, which paired Milan's bitter with Turin's vermouth; tradition links it to Gaspare Campari's bar in Milan, but without documentary proof. The name Americano already appears in 1920 in Ferruccio Mazzon's manual Il Barista, and in 1936 E. Grassi's Mille Misture lists about a dozen versions. A widespread but unproven story says the name came from American tourists escaping Prohibition; the date of Mazzon's book makes it doubtful. Later, Ian Fleming had James Bond order one in Casino Royale.
Taste profile
- Bitter
- 3 out of 5
- Herbal
- 3 out of 5
- Sweet
- 2 out of 5
- Bubbly
- 2 out of 5
- Citrus
- 1 out of 5
