The Americano began life as the “Milano-Torino” at Caffe Camparino in the 1860’s, but it was so popular with American ex-pats that it got renamed.
As with so many old cocktails, this drink recipe is sometimes stated without specific amounts of the ingredients. You can certainly feel free to tweak it. The ratios stated here seem to be fairly common, and in any case, I thought it worked well.
The flavor here is bittersweet with fruity notes of cherry and grape, with the two liquors balancing each other out nicely. The soda water reduces the sweetness, which is why you probably never want to go above a “two parts soda water” ratio. If you find this drink too dry, you may want to reduce the Campari and increase the sweet vermouth.
It’s a fairly complex flavor that’s not for everyone. You may find it grows on you over time, or when you find just the right balance of ingredients for your taste buds.
Americano Classic Drink Recipe
Recipe for the Americano classic cocktail which features Campari for a bittersweet cherry flavor. Great for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Campari
- 1 1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
- 3 ounces soda water
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour in the Campari and vermouth
- Finish by pouring in the soda.
- Garnish with an orange slice or twist.