Americano Classic Drink Recipe

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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.

Americano Cocktail in front of bottles of liquor

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.

Closeup view of Americano Cocktail with orange slice and red straws

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.

Overhead view of Americano Cocktail served on cocktail napkin

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 Cocktail in front of bottles of liquor

Americano Classic Drink Recipe

Yield: 1 drink
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes

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

  1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
  2. Pour in the Campari and vermouth
  3. Finish by pouring in the soda.
  4. Garnish with an orange slice or twist.

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Last Updated:

October 25, 2023