Some days, you just need a bit of liquor instead of a good, stiff drink. You’re not looking for a “spirited” night or a boozy evening; just a simple drink as a warmup for a nice dinner and to cap off a long workday. Something light and refreshing to sip while you laugh and talk with friends or family.
In our commitment to find exceptional beverages around the world, we find that a subtle aperitif in Abu Dhabi is the best after-work and pre-dinner cocktail.
How about an Americano cocktail?
What Is an Americano Cocktail?
The Americano cocktail is not the coffee-based drink, caffé Americano. The Americano is a spritzy cocktail that contains just a few ingredients, making it an easy drink to make. Apart from the ease in mixing it, the Americano drink is also a low alcohol-by-volume (ABV) cocktail. Typically, a glass has about 9.8% ABV, which is akin to drinking a glass of really strong beer.
Although you may only be hearing about this drink now, it’s a concoction that goes far back to the 1860s.
According to the Americano cocktail history, Gaspar Campari was the first one to serve the drink in his Milan bar. If Campari’s name conjures up visions of the red Italian liqueur, it’s because Gaspar invented it. Naturally, Americano contains Campari topped with sparkling mineral water, which is what makes Americano different from Milano-Torino (aka Mi-To or MiTo), a headier version with 17.37% ABV.
Gaspar’s candy-red liqueur is so good, it spawned a few other cocktail mixes that could be mistaken for an Americano.
What’s the Difference Between an Americano and a Negroni?
For starters, the negroni was created in the 1920s. The negroni and Americano cocktail contain equal parts of Campari and vermouth, except negroni uses gin instead of sparkling water.
What Is the Difference Between an Americano and a Manhattan?
The Manhattan was created in the 1870s, supposedly in the New York Manhattan Club. Unlike the Americano cocktail’s main alcohol of choice (Campari), the Manhattan uses whiskey. Instead of Campari bitters, Manhattan mixes Angostura bitters. Early recipes of this New Yorker cocktail even include gum Arabic syrup and absinthe.
How to Make the Perfect Americano Cocktail
So how does one make an Americano? What are the Americano cocktail ingredients?
The most basic Americano comprises just three key ingredients: Campari, sweet vermouth, and sparkling water. Depending on how much you want to drink before dinner or after work, you can serve this classic cocktail in a Tom Collins glass or a highball.
Both glasses are perfect for drinks with ice and topped components. But a Tom Collins glass is a bit taller and wider than a highball. Whatever cocktail glasses you serve it in, make sure you’ve got the ice ready. No one likes to drink room-temperature cocktails.
Here are other tips to help you mix the perfect Americano:
1. Check your sweet vermouth.
Sweet vermouth must be kept in the fridge once it’s been opened. Its shelf life is usually about two to three months. Unopened, vermouth could last for several years. Exposure to oxidation changes the taste of sweet vermouth; it loses its nuanced flavors and aromatics. When you put it in the fridge, make sure the cap is tight and the bottle is upright.
2. Get sparkling water with ripping bubbles
A good bottle of sparkling or soda water will cut through the bitterness of the Campari. Think effervescent. More bubbles means your Americano will be fresher, brighter. You may use San Pellegrino; however, this bottled water is more fizzy than sparkling. Another option would be soda water.
3. Bartender’s tip: Chill your glasses 30 minutes before mixing.
Although chilled glasses replace ice in cocktails (e.g., martini, gibson, daiquiri), they still keep your drinks cooler for much longer. Ice doesn’t immediately melt, which means your Americano cocktail in a chilled glass stays perfectly tasty. After all, the best cocktails are best enjoyed cold.
4. Add lemon zest if you like your cocktail a bit tart.
The authentic Americano uses an orange slice for garnish. But you could also add lemon zest. The official International Bar Association recipe does both.
5. Pair the bittersweet cocktail with salty snacks.
Who says you can’t have a bit of a snack before dinner? If you’re having guests over, a charcuterie board with some olives, cheese varieties and nuts would be perfect. If you’re having a quiet evening with the cocktail, we suggest a few gourmet snacks to nosh.
When you’re having a dinner party, a self-serve bar with a recipe for the Americano cocktail should keep guests occupied while you get everything ready. This Italian-made drink is so easy to create, anyone can mix it.
Americano Cocktail Recipe
Finally, here’s the Americano cocktail recipe, so you can make your own.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces Campari
- 1 ½ ounces sweet vermouth
- 2 ounces soda or sparkling water, chilled
- Orange or lemon slice to garnish
- Ice
Fill the glass with ice. Pour Campari and sweet vermouth over the ice. Top the drink with soda or sparkling water, then gently stir to mix. Add your choice of garnish and enjoy.
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