Americano cocktail – recipe and guide
The Americano cocktail comprises Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water served in a highball glass over ice and garnished with a slice of lemon.
Just like the Martini (shaken, not stirred), and specifically the Vesper, James Bond also affected the Americano, making it a bit more popular. In the 1953 novel, “Casino Royale” by Ian Fleming, Bond’s first drink was indeed the Americano, and then in later novels, the cocktail appeared again. But it did not start from there… Its invention was almost a century before that.
The Americano was first served in 1860, in a bar called “Caffè Campari” in Milan, Italy. The creator of the Americano and owner of the bar was Gaspare Campari, and it’s believed the name of the drink comes from its popularity amongst American tourists.
The Americano is also the cocktail that inspired the famous Negroni, which was invented by the Italian Count Camillo Negroni in the 20th century. The story goes, Count Camillo Negroni asked the barkeep to make his usual Americano stronger, so Fosco Scarselly (the barkeep) changed the soda water with gin.
The cocktail we’re looking at has only 3 ingredients, so those ingredients need to be of excellent quality. The drink is light, low on alcohol with a bittersweet bubbly taste, making it perfect for daytime activities. If you are a fan of classic drinks, this is one you should try.
Ingredients:
- 2 Ounces (60 ml) of Campari.
- 2 Ounces (60 ml) of sweet vermouth.
- Club soda.
- A slice of orange for garnish.
How to make the Americano…
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Add the Campari and sweet vermouth.
- Top with soda water and gently stir.
- Garnish with a slice of orange.
- Enjoy.