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The Americano cocktail is a light, simple, and eminently sippable aperitif that evokes an Italian piazza. Here’s how to make it great.
Why we love this recipe
You might think of the Americano cocktail as the Negroni’s lighter, more day-drinkable cousin. You may be surprised to learn that the Americano came first.
The Americano was born when Italian bartenders of the mid 1800s found that American tourists preferred their Milano-Torino cocktails (a simple blend of Campari and vermouth) with a big splash of soda water. Legend has it that the Negroni followed in the early 1900s, when the Italian Count Camillo Negroni visited a bar in Florence and asked that the soda water be swapped out in favor of gin.
The Americano is:
- A lower-alcohol choice
- Nicely balanced between bitter, sweet, and herbaceous flavors
- A touch fizzy
- Straightforward and lovely
I first published this recipe here in 2018. I’ve since updated the post for clarity, but the recipe remains the same.
What you’ll need
Here’s a glance at the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe.
- Luckily, there’s nothing more straightforward than buying a ruby-red bottle of Campari. This Italian bittersweet aperitif has a smooth yet complex flavor profile, with notes of rhubarb, clove, orange, cinnamon, and cherry.
- For the sweet vermouth, you’ve got several options. You can’t go wrong with my favorite Carpano Antica. Other good choices: Punt e Mes (which is more bitter), Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino (well-balanced), and even Dolin.
- For the soda water, you can use any variety you like, from a sparkling mineral water to the product of your at-home carbonator to a gently flavored, unsweetened seltzer (lemon, grapefruit, or tangerine would work beautifully).
- An orange twist is the traditional garnish, and I like to use the simplest variation for this straightforward drink. Just grab your vegetable peeler and swipe a thin, mostly pith-free sliver of peel from a well-washed orange. You could use a thin slice of orange instead if you prefer.
How to make it
Here’s an overview of what you’ll do to make an Americano cocktail. You can see the steps in action in the video that accompanies this post, and get all the details in the recipe card below.
- Place ice into a rocks or highball glass. Pour in the Campari.
- Pour in the vermouth.
- Top with soda water and give it a stir.
- Garnish with an orange twist and serve.
Expert tips and FAQs
Sure thing. To make eight drinks, up to about 24 hours before serving time, pour into a pitcher 1 1/2 cups Campari, 1 1/2 cups vermouth, and 1/2 cup water. Give it a stir, cover, and pop into the fridge. At serving time, you can choose between pouring 1 1/2 cups (or more, to taste) soda water into the pitcher before serving, or dividing the contents of the pitcher among serving glasses and topping each with soda water individually. Garnish each glass with an orange twist and serve.
More favorite Campari cocktails
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The Americano Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) Campari
- 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) sweet vermouth (rosso)
- 1 ½ ounces (45 ml) soda water, more to taste
- Orange twist, to garnish
Instructions
- Place some ice in a rocks or highball glass. For their slow melt and simple, classy look I used these giant ice cubes.
- Pour in Campari, vermouth, and soda water.
- Give it a gentle stir.
- Garnish with an orange twist and serve.
Notes
- For the sweet vermouth, you've got several options. You can't go wrong with my favorite Carpano Antica. Other good choices: Punt e Mes (which is more bitter), Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino (well-balanced), and even Dolin.
- For the soda water, you can use any variety you like, from a sparkling mineral water to the product of your at-home carbonator to a gently flavored, unsweetened seltzer (lemon, grapefruit, or tangerine would work beautifully).
- If you like, you can batch this drink for a party. To make eight drinks, up to about 24 hours before serving time, pour into a pitcher 1 1/2 cups Campari, 1 1/2 cups vermouth, and 1/2 cup water. Give it a stir, cover, and pop into the fridge. At serving time, you can choose between pouring 1 1/2 cups (or more, to taste) soda water into the pitcher before serving, or dividing the contents of the pitcher among serving glasses and topping each with soda water individually. Garnish each glass with an orange twist and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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