Who doesn’t love an Americano? The spritzy cousin to everyone’s favourite aperitif, the Negroni, the Americano is a delicious blend of Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water. We rate it as one of the best pre-feed cocktails, and it’s particularly delicious if you’re all Negroni-ed out.
Don’t let the name fool you – this drink is as Italian as they come. The name Americano just means “in American style”. There are two theories as to where the Americano cocktail came from. The first is that it was born from the Milano-Torino cocktail in the 19th century and became so popular with American tourists they named it the Americano. The second is that vermouth producers picked up on the American trend for bittersweet cocktails and began marketing their vermouth as “vermouth Americano” to entice the American consumer.
In all honesty, the origin story for the Americano isn’t particularly important; it’s all about the taste. And if you haven’t had an Americano before, it’s life-changing. Think big fruits and balanced bitters topped up with a refreshing soda. It is an absolutely perfect way to start a long lunch or dinner.
Don’t believe us? It’s time to step out of your aperitif comfort zone and embrace the Americano way.
