Americano
Build ∙ 2 min ∙ 14.2% ABV ∙
The Americano is an IBA official cocktail — a low-proof Italian highball of equal parts red bitter (e.g. Campari) and sweet vermouth, topped with soda water. Bittersweet and fizzy, with bright orange notes riding the soda's lift and a dry, herbal finish that keeps it light — an easy aperitif before dinner.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir the ingredients in the glass with ice: Red bitter 30 mlRosso vermouth 30 ml
- Add a splash of Soda water
- Stir gently
- Garnish with an orange wheel and a lemon twist
Tips
- Adjust the soda water to taste — a heavier splash gives a lighter, more sessionable pour, while a light splash keeps the bitterness and sweet vermouth notes more upfront.
- Fill the glass with large ice cubes before pouring to slow dilution, since this build has no strong spirit to mask a watery result.
- Top with soda water last and give only one gentle stir to preserve carbonation instead of stirring vigorously.
- Express the orange wheel and lemon twist over the surface before dropping them in to release citrus oils across the drink.
History
The Americano was first served around the 1860s at Gaspare Campari's Caffè Campari in Milan. It is a direct descendant of the Milano-Torino, a drink named for the origins of its components: Campari from Milan and sweet vermouth — specifically Punt e Mes — from Turin. Soda water was added later, lightening the drink into a highball. Accounts differ on how it came to be called the Americano: most English-language sources attribute the name to its popularity among American tourists during Prohibition in the 1920s, while some Italian-language sources instead credit boxer Primo Carnera, who became world heavyweight champion in New York in 1933. Today, the IBA's official Americano codifies the sparkling version as the standard. The cocktail also holds a famous literary footnote: it is the very first drink ordered by Ian Fleming's James Bond in the 1953 novel Casino Royale.
FAQ
What exactly is in an Americano cocktail?
Equal parts red bitter, such as Campari, and rosso vermouth, topped with soda water and built over ice in an old-fashioned glass. It is garnished with an orange wheel and a lemon twist, and comes in at a light 14.2% ABV.
What is an IBA cocktail?
An IBA cocktail is one of the official drinks listed by the International Bartenders Association, a global body that maintains a standard list of recognized recipes. The Americano is one of these, classified among the IBA's unforgettables.
What's the difference between an Americano and a Negroni?
A Negroni adds gin to the same red bitter and sweet vermouth base and is stirred, not built, giving it more strength and no fizz. The Americano stays lighter and lower-proof by using soda water instead of gin, which is why it works as a session-friendly aperitif rather than a spirit-forward one.
What is the ratio of ingredients in an Americano?
This build uses equal parts red bitter and rosso vermouth, topped with a smaller amount of soda water. The result is a drink that leans bittersweet rather than fizzy, since the soda tops rather than dominates the base.
How do you make an Aperol Americano?
Swap the red bitter for Aperol and build it the same way: equal parts Aperol and rosso vermouth over ice, topped with soda water. Aperol is lighter and sweeter than a bolder red bitter like Campari, so the result is softer and less bitter than a classic Americano.
How do you make a perfect Americano?
Build it directly over ice in an old-fashioned glass: equal parts red bitter and rosso vermouth, topped with soda water, then garnish with an orange wheel and a lemon twist. Adding the soda last and stirring only briefly keeps the fizz intact and the drink properly cold.
