Move over negroni! At just 3 ingerdients, this Americano cocktail will fast become your favorite drink! Similar in flavor profile to a negroni, but on the lighter side, it's perfect for when you're in the mood for something bright and refreshing.
Have you ever had an americano cocktail? If not, I suggest you try one! Perfect for those summer days, where it's hot and you're in the mood for a refreshing drink to cool down, Sure, you could go for an aperol spritz, but why not give something different a try? Trust me, you'll be glad you did!
What is an Americano Cocktail?
It's a bitter cocktail that is generally drank as an aperitivo, or aperitif, before a meal. All the bitter flavors open up the palette, and stimulate the appetite.
The Americano was actually created before the negroni, even though the negroni is now much more popular. Personally, I like the flavor of the americano much better.
The main ingredients in an americano cocktail are:
- Campari
- Red sweet vermouth
- Club soda
What is Campari?
Campari is an alcoholic Italian liqueur that is red/crimson in color. It’s alcohol content varies from between 20.5% to 28% in strength.
What is Vermouth?
Vermouth is a fortified wine, meaning it's wine spiked with distilled alcohol to raise the proof, and then flavored with herbs and spices,. hile every brand has its own special recipe, there are two main varieties of vermouth: sweet, which is reddish-brown in color (used in this americano cocktail), sweetened with sugar and sometimes called Italian vermouth; and dry, which is straw-colored, typically more bitter and sometimes called French vermouth.
What does an Americano Cocktail Taste Like?
I'm not going to lie- it's definitely bitter (which I personally love). If you know what a negroni tastes like, an americano tastes like a negroni but without the gin. It's big and bold in flavor, but not as strong as a negroni.
The Americano Cocktail Ratio:
To make a classic americano cocktail, the ratio to follow is 1 part campari, 1 part vermouth and 2 parts club soda. As long as you follow this ratio, you will end up with a delicious cocktail.
For example, you can do 1 oz campari, 1 oz vermouth, and 2 oz club soda. This particular recipe uses a tall cocktail glass, so the measurements used are 2 oz campari, 2 oz vermouth, 4 oz club soda.
If you don't like your cocktails as strong, you can add more club soda than the recipe calls for.
How to Make an Americano Cocktail - Step by Step
Fill a tall cocktail glass with 5-6 ice cubes. First add campari to the glass (step 1)
Then pour in the vermouth (photo 2)
Top with club soda (step 3)
Stir with a spoon so all the ingredients combine. Garnish with orange slices and strawberries (step 4)
Top Tips to Make an Americano Cocktail:
- This americano cocktail recipe is made for a tall cocktail glass. If you're using a smaller glass, you can halve the recipe.
- The recommended vermouth to use for this cocktail is a red sweet vermouth. I used Cinzano Rosso, but there are so many red vermouths out there you can use.
- This cocktail is on the stronger side. To make it less strong, you can add more club soda than the recipe calls for.
- Garnishing this cocktail with orange slices and strawberries is optional, but I would recommend it. It makes the cocktail look pretty, and by the time you're finished the cocktail, you'll have wonderful liqueur-soaked fruit to eat!
- To get the exact measurements and proportions for this cocktail, make it with a shot glass (as shown in the process steps)
Other Cocktail Recipes You Might Like:
If you’ve tried making this Americano Cocktail, or any other recipe on the blog please let me know what you thought of it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’ve been up to.
Recipe
Americano Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 ounces campari
- 2 ounces sweet vermouth
- 4 ounces club soda
Instructions
- Fill a tall cocktail glass with 5-6 ice cubes.
- First add campari to the glass. Then pour in the vermouth. Top with club soda.
- Stir with a spoon so all the ingredients combine. Garnish with orange slices and strawberries.
Recipe Notes
- This americano cocktail recipe is made for a tall cocktail glass. If you're using a smaller glass, you can halve the recipe.
- The recommended vermouth to use for this cocktail is a red sweet vermouth. I used Cinzano Rosso, but there are so many red vermouths out there you can use.
- This cocktail is on the stronger side. To make it less strong, you can add more club soda than the recipe calls for.
- Garnishing this cocktail with orange slices and strawberries is optional, but I would recommend it. It makes the cocktail look pretty, and by the time you're finished the cocktail, you'll have wonderful liqueur-soaked fruit to eat!
- To get the exact measurements and proportions for this cocktail, make it with a shot glass (as shown in the process steps)
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