If you’ve ever had a Negroni or one of its many riffs, you’ve tried Campari. The red bitter liqueur lends its distinctive bittersweet flavor profile and bright red hue to countless classic and modern cocktails.
Bartender Gaspare Campari launched his signature liqueur in 1860, in Novara, Italy, after two decades of experimentation, using a proprietary recipe that reportedly remains the same today. Campari’s striking red color was unique at the time and went on to inspire other red bitter liqueurs like Aperol and Select Aperitivo.
In the early 20th century, Campari grew in popularity thanks to its inclusion in classic cocktails like the Americano, the Negroni, and the Boulevardier. Although the company focused mainly on its namesake product for most of its history, Campari began to acquire other brands in the 1990s, and today has more than 50 spirits and liqueurs in its portfolio, including one-time rival Aperol.
Campari works well with lots of different ingredients – try swapping the gin for bourbon in a negroni to make a boulevardier, for example – and it’s also delicious in simple serves. We like drinking it with soda water and lots of ice in summer, or adding a dash to IPA for a beer spritz.
Killer CocktailWith: Campari, dry gin, amaretto, passion fruit syrup and lemon juice.We say: Amaretto and passion fruit dominate this bittersweet sour.
AmericanoWith: Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water.We say: The famous light aperitivo. Bitter, fizzy, long and refreshing.
English MarmaladeWith: Campari, orange marmalade, dry gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and orange bitters.We say: The addition of Campari and aromatic bitters to the classic recipe from the 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book, lifts the Marmalade Cocktail to a new level of bittersweet complexity.
EnzoniWith: Campari, dry gin, green gapes, lemon juice and sugar syrup.We say: Think Negroni but with citrus freshness and grape fruitiness.
Jungle BirdWith: Campari, dark rum, pineapple juice, lime juice and sugar syrup.We say: Bittersweet and fruity with pungent rum notes sipped through crushed ice. Properly Tiki-tastic.
In the early 20th century, Campari grew in popularity thanks to its inclusion in classic cocktails like the Americano, the Negroni, and the Boulevardier. Although the company focused mainly on its namesake product for most of its history, Campari began to acquire other brands in the 1990s, and today has more than 50 spirits and liqueurs in its portfolio, including one-time rival Aperol.
Campari’s intensity means it’s best served with some dilution, so it’s rarely sipped neat. It can be topped with soda water for a Campari & Soda or enjoyed in endless classic and modern classic cocktails like the ones below. Although you’ll find the bitter in plenty of modern bartender creations, from a low-proof sour to a tequila Ramos Gin Fizz variation, the classics are a great place to start. Here are 13 of the most iconic Campari cocktails.
If you’ve ever had a Negroni or one of its many riffs, you’ve tried Campari. The red bitter liqueur lends its distinctive bittersweet flavor profile and bright red hue to countless classic and modern cocktails.
Depending on where it’s produced, Campari is bottled at an ABV of 20.5%–28%. (In the United States, it has an ABV of 24%.) At one time, the liqueur received its bright red hue from carmine, or the crushed-up scales of cochineal insects, but Campari stopped using carmine in 2006 and now relies on artificial coloring.
Bartender Gaspare Campari launched his signature liqueur in 1860, in Novara, Italy, after two decades of experimentation, using a proprietary recipe that reportedly remains the same today. Campari’s striking red color was unique at the time and went on to inspire other red bitter liqueurs like Aperol and Select Aperitivo.
What is Campari? – History, Use, Taste Test – Inebrious
FAQ
What is Campari served with?
How do Italians drink Campari?
Can you drink Campari straight up?
Can you use Campari in a cocktail?
But there’s more to Campari, which can add an appealingly bitter edge to any cocktail. Below you’ll find a few of our favorite ways to use the red stuff, including big-batch options, frozen drinks, and cocktails both shaken and stirred. On a cold day you could even toddy it …
What to drink with Campari & Orange?
Garibaldi Cocktail (Campari & Orange!) Here’s a unique Campari cocktail: the Garibaldi! This Italian cocktail has so much going for it, it’s hard to know where to start. Orange juice is the perfect sweet balance to bitter Campari. There’s a little textural little flair with a foamy topping.
What goes well with Campari?
Campari is a beverage with many suitors—ingredients that clamor to pair up with Campari on an epic bar crawl. Among the finest is grapefruit juice. Any citrus goes well with Campari, you’ll find, but grapefruit is exceptional.
What to drink with Campari rum?
Each sip is balanced and refreshing, with a sweet tart body and a hint of bitter on the finish. One sip in, you’ll be sold. Here’s one of the most unique Campari cocktails out there: the Jungle Bird! It’s one of the few rum drinks to pair tropical flavors with this Italian bitter. Add it to a tropical drink and the effect is surprising.