Garibaldi
A citrus and bitter aperitif & bitters cocktail ∙ Build ∙ 2 min ∙ 5.5% ABV ∙
The Garibaldi is a two-ingredient IBA highball of a red bitter such as Campari and fresh orange juice, built over ice.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Build all ingredients in an ice-filled highball glass: Red bitter 45 mlOrange juice 120 ml
- Garnish with an orange wedge
Tips
- Squeeze the orange juice fresh rather than using carton juice; its light foam and body are part of the drink.
History
The Garibaldi began as a simple two-ingredient Italian drink of Campari and orange juice, named for Giuseppe Garibaldi, the general and revolutionary who led the 19th-century unification of Italy. The pairing is commonly read as a symbol of that unification, with Campari representing the industrial north, where it was created in Milan, and orange juice standing in for Sicily and the south.
The drink was revived internationally starting in 2015. That year bartender Naren Young popularized a "fluffy," heavily aerated orange juice version at the bar Dante in New York City — the rendition credited with returning the Garibaldi to wide attention.
The International Bartenders Association placed it in the Contemporary Classics category in its 2024 update. It had featured on earlier IBA lists in 1987 and 1993 before being dropped for years.
FAQ
What's in a Garibaldi?
45 ml of a red bitter such as Campari and 120 ml of fresh orange juice, over ice.
How to make a Garibaldi cocktail?
Fill a chilled highball glass with ice, pour in the red bitter, then the fresh orange juice, and garnish with an orange wedge. Squeeze the juice yourself: its light foam and body are part of the drink.
What does a Garibaldi cocktail taste like?
Bittersweet rather than purely fruity. The red bitter's herbal, slightly medicinal edge cuts through the sweetness of fresh orange juice. At about 5.5% ABV it drinks light, and more bitter than a typical orange juice cocktail.
What makes a Garibaldi different from a mimosa?
The Garibaldi has no fizz. It is a red bitter and fresh orange juice over ice, while a Mimosa is sparkling wine with orange juice. The Garibaldi is still, juicier, and has a bitter edge.
