Americano
A classic Italian aperitivo of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water served over ice with citrus.
The Americano is a low-alcohol Italian aperitivo that layers bitter Campari with sweet vermouth and soda water. Campari provides a firm bitter orange backbone, while the vermouth adds herbal sweetness and body. Topping with chilled soda lengthens the drink and makes it an easy sipper before a meal. Built directly over ice and garnished with orange and lemon, it is light, sparkling, and refreshingly bitter.
Ingredients
- • 1.5 oz Campari
- • 1.5 oz sweet vermouth
- • 2-3 oz chilled soda water
Did you know?
“The Americano evolved from the Milano‚ÄìTorino, a 19th-century mix of Campari from Milan and sweet vermouth from Turin served without soda. Topping the drink with soda water became popular with visiting Americans, which most historians point to as the origin of the name. David Wondrich notes the drink‚Äôs presence in early 20th-century bar manuals and travel writing in Imbibe!. Campari company histories and Italian aperitivo writing trace the Americano as a direct ancestor of the Negroni.”
Bartender's Note
Adjust the vermouth ratio for more sweetness or bitterness and use plenty of fresh, cold ice for proper dilution.
How to make the Americano
- 1Fill a highball glass with fresh ice
- 2Add Campari and sweet vermouth to the glass
- 3Top with chilled soda water
- 4Give a brief gentle stir to combine
- 5Garnish with an orange slice and lemon twist and serve
