🍊 Americano

Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda — the elegant Italian aperitivo that inspired the Negroni.

2 min
Serves 1
Built
Rocks Glass
Ingredients
  • 1½ oz Campari
  • 1½ oz Sweet vermouth
  • Splash of soda water (to top)
  • Orange slice to garnish
Method
  1. 1
    Fill glassFill a rocks glass with large ice cubes.
  2. 2
    Add CampariPour the Campari directly over the ice.
  3. 3
    Add vermouthPour in the sweet vermouth. The two liquids will naturally begin to combine.
  4. 4
    Top with sodaAdd a splash of soda water — just enough to lighten the drink slightly, not drown it.
  5. 5
    GarnishStir gently once or twice. Garnish with an orange slice and serve.

The Cocktail That Became a Negroni

The Americano was the original Campari cocktail, popular in Italy from the late 19th century. In 1919, Count Camillo Negroni walked into Caffè Casoni in Florence and asked his bartender to strengthen his Americano by replacing the soda water with gin. The Negroni was born.

The drink gets its name not from America but from the Italian slang for 'American-style' bitter drinks, which Italian bartenders were making for tourists who found the bitter aperitivos too intense. The soda softens the edge while keeping all the bittersweet complexity.

Variations

🍷 Sbagliato

Replace the sweet vermouth with Prosecco for a Negroni Sbagliato — lighter, bubblier, and with a sparkling wine sweetness.

🌿 Cin Cin

Add 2 dashes of orange bitters and a thin sliver of grapefruit peel instead of orange. Drier and more aromatic.

❄️ Americano on Ice

Serve in a tall glass over crushed ice with more soda. A longer, cooler version for hot weather.

Related
🍸 Cocktails A–Z Browse all 72 classic recipes 🇮🇹 Vermouth Guide Sweet vermouth and Campari, topped with soda 🍊 Negroni The gin-strengthened evolution 🥃 Boulevardier The bourbon Negroni