🇮🇹 Italy · Drinks
Americano Cocktail
By eatmundo · July 7, 2026
🇮🇹 ITAI-generated imageThe Americano is a timeless Italian aperitivo, a delightful precursor to the more famous Negroni. This refreshing cocktail artfully blends bitter Campari with sweet vermouth, topped with sparkling soda water and garnished with an orange slice. It’s a perfect balance of bitter, sweet, and effervescent notes, ideal for stimulating the appetite.
Ingredients
check them off as you prepareHow to Make It
- 1
Prepare Your Glass: Choose a sturdy rocks glass or a highball glass. Fill it generously with large, fresh ice cubes. Plenty of ice is crucial to keep the drink chilled and prevent quick dilution.
- 2
Add Campari: Measure 30 ml of Campari and pour it directly over the ice in the prepared glass. The vibrant red color should immediately catch your eye.
- 3
Add Sweet Vermouth: Next, add 30 ml of a good quality sweet red vermouth to the glass. Ensure the proportions are equal to maintain the classic balance of the drink.
- 4
Gently Stir: Use a bar spoon to gently stir the Campari and vermouth with the ice for about 10-15 seconds. This chills and slightly dilutes the spirits, mellowing their initial intensity.
- 5
Top with Soda Water: Top the mixture with 60 ml of cold, fresh soda water. Pour slowly to preserve the effervescence and create a beautiful foamy head.
- 6
Final Stir: Give the drink one final, very gentle stir from bottom to top, just to incorporate the soda water without flattening the bubbles. You want it sparkling and lively.
- 7
Garnish and Serve: Garnish the Americano with a fresh orange slice, perhaps twisted or a half-wheel, to add a bright citrus aroma. Serve immediately as a refreshing aperitivo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Americano cocktail?+
The Americano is an Italian highball cocktail consisting of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water garnished with an orange slice. It is typically served as an aperitif before meals due to its refreshing and slightly bitter profile.
What's the origin of the Americano cocktail?+
The Americano is believed to have originated in Italy in the late 19th century. It gained popularity among American tourists, hence its name, and is a precursor to the Negroni (which adds gin).
What's the ideal type of sweet vermouth for an Americano?+
A good quality Italian sweet red vermouth like Cinzano Rosso, Martini Rosso, or Carpano Antica Formula is ideal. Their rich, herbal, and slightly bitter-sweet notes complement the Campari perfectly.
How does an Americano differ from a Negroni?+
The Americano is made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water. A Negroni, on the other hand, replaces the soda water with gin, resulting in a stronger, more spirit-forward cocktail.
Can I adjust the proportions of the ingredients?+
While the classic ratio is 1:1:2 (Campari:Vermouth:Soda), you can slightly adjust the soda water to your preference for a stronger or lighter drink. Keep Campari and vermouth equal for balance.
🇮🇹 ITAI-generated imageMundo Match
This dish doesn't have a strong Mundo Match yet — but here's the closest ingredient overlap we found across the world's cuisines.
