The Americano is the quintessential Italian aperitivo. When it was first created at Gaspare Campari’s bar in Milan in the 1860s, it was named Milano-Torino for its two main ingredients: Campari from Milan and Cinzano from Turin. The drink quickly became popular as an afternoon quencher at outdoor caffès in the Italian piazzas. The name changed during Prohibition due to the mass of thirsty American tourists who fell in love with it. Some fifty years later, this drink would inspire one of the most fantastic aperitifs ever: the Negroni (page 42). It is little noted that the Americano is the first cocktail that James Bond orders in Ian Fleming’s first novel Casino Royale, long before he orders a Martini.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 1 drink
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Pour the Campari and vermouth into a Collins glass. Add large cold ice cubes and the orange half-wheel. Cover the glass with a small shaker and shake gently. Top off with the club soda.
tasting notes
Step 2
Dominant Flavors: bitter fruits and subtle spices
Step 3
Body: light, effervescent
Step 4
Dryness: dry
Step 5
Complexity: medium
Step 6
Accentuating or Contrasting Flavors: surprising sweetness contrasting bitter flavors with undertones of herbs and botanicals
Step 7
Finish: medium, bittersweet
Step 8
Glass: Collins
