Americano Cocktail Recipe

Before you start

The Americano is the Negroni's lighter relative: Campari and sweet vermouth in equal parts, topped with soda water instead of gin. The result is a tall, bittersweet, lightly fizzy drink with roughly half the alcohol of a typical cocktail, which is why it works so well before dinner or on a hot afternoon.

Because soda makes up most of the glass, quality of the bubbles matters as much as the spirits. Use soda that is cold and freshly opened, pour it gently down the side, and stir only once or twice so the fizz survives. Plenty of ice keeps it cold without the soda going flat. Do not confuse this drink with the Caffè Americano, which is espresso and hot water.

Ingredients

• 30 ml (1 oz) Campari
• 30 ml (1 oz) sweet vermouth
• 90 to 120 ml (3 to 4 oz) soda water — well chilled
• to fill the glass ice cubes
• 1 slice orange — or a lemon peel

Method

1. Fill a highball glass to the top with ice. A full glass melts more slowly than a half-full one.
2. Pour the Campari and sweet vermouth over the ice.
3. Give the two a few quick turns with the bar spoon so the vermouth and bitter blend before the soda goes in.
4. Top with 90 to 120 ml of cold soda water, pouring slowly down the inside of the glass to keep the carbonation.
5. Lift the ice once with the bar spoon to mix without stirring out the bubbles. Tuck an orange slice into the glass and serve.

Tips for success

• Use a small fresh bottle or can of soda. A big bottle that has been opened twice is already half flat.
• Taste after 90 ml of soda. Some people like it more concentrated; others top it right up.
• A lemon peel instead of orange makes the drink brighter and less sweet.

Substitutions

Soda water

Sparkling mineral water with more minerals gives a slightly salty, rounder fizz. Tonic water adds sweetness and quinine bitterness, so reduce the vermouth if you use it.

Campari

Aperol makes a sweeter, orange-forward and lower-proof version. Another red Italian bitter works one-for-one.

Sweet vermouth

A blanc or bianco vermouth gives a paler, more floral drink.

Variations

Prosecco top

Replace the soda with dry sparkling wine for a stronger, wine-driven drink similar to a Sbagliato.

Rosso vermouth swap

Try different sweet vermouths; the soda shows their differences clearly, making this an easy way to compare brands.

Troubleshooting

The drink tastes flat

The soda lost its fizz or was stirred too hard. Use cold, freshly opened soda and mix with one gentle lift.

It is too bitter

Increase the vermouth to 37 ml, or add a little more soda to spread the bitterness.

It goes watery fast

Fill the glass completely with ice and keep the soda refrigerated; warm soda melts ice quickly.

Storage

Build to order; soda goes flat once poured. Keep Campari at room temperature and opened vermouth in the fridge, where it stays pleasant for about a month.

Safety notes

Contains about 60 ml of bitter liqueur and vermouth, roughly 0.7 of a U.S. standard drink (a standard drink is about 14 g of pure alcohol). Lower in alcohol, but still only for adults of legal drinking age; do not drink and drive.