Milan, Italy · 1860

Americano

Also known as Milano-Torino, Milano Torino

A low-alcohol, bitter-sweet aperitif built right in the glass and topped with soda.

bittersweetherbalaperitiflow-alcoholorangerefreshingcarbonateditalian

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip hits you with Campari's bright, bitter orange and root notes, mellowed immediately by the rich, dark sweetness of the vermouth. As the soda lifts it up, the middle turns light and refreshing, while the finish lingers with a pleasant, drying herbal bitterness.

Who will like it

For people who like bitter-sweet, herbal drinks but want something lighter and lower in alcohol than a Negroni.

When to drink

Drink this early in the evening as an appetite-whetting aperitif, especially on a warm day.

Ordering tip

Ask for it with a specific sweet vermouth if you have a preference, or request an orange twist instead of a slice for a more aromatic hit.

Ice: CubedTemp: ColdCost: $2–$4Glass: Old FashionedBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

The Americano is a bitter-sweet, fizzy drink that goes down easy. Campari hits you with its signature bitter orange and herbal punch, but the sweet vermouth softens the blow with dark, spiced richness. The soda water stretches it out, making it light and incredibly refreshing. It's a drink that wakes up your palate without knocking you out.

Finish: The finish is dry and lingering, with a pleasant herbal bitterness that sticks around and makes you want another sip.

Primary tastes

bittersweetherbal

Secondary

earthyfloral

Aroma

orange peeldark herbscola-like spice

Bitternessprominently bitter
Campari puts bitterness front and center, though the vermouth keeps it from being a one-note bitter bomb.
Sweetnessmoderately sweet
The sweet vermouth balances the Campari with a rich, dark sugariness that sits right in the middle.
Strengthlow ABV
With no distilled spirit and a heavy soda top, this is a light session drink you can sip for a while.
Refreshingvery refreshing
The soda water and ice make this a highly cooling, thirst-quenching drink, perfect for hot weather.
Complexitymoderately complex
The interplay between the many botanicals in the Campari and vermouth gives it layers, even though the ingredient list is short.

Recipe

Make it at home

Built · Old Fashioned · equal parts on Campari. No distilled spirit in this drink; Campari acts as the primary alcoholic driver and flavor base.

Before you start

Make sure your soda water is well chilled, and grab a solid chunk of ice for the glass—bigger is better so it melts slowly.

Ingredients

CampariBase Spirit30ml
Sweet VermouthVermouthUse a solid Italian sweet vermouth like Carpano Antica or Cocchi di Torino.30ml
Soda WaterSodaChilled club soda.60ml (or top up)
Orange SliceGarnishHalf wheel or slice.1 slice

Garnish: Orange Slice

Tools

Old Fashioned Glass · Serving
The glass you build and serve the drink in.
At home: Any short, sturdy glass
Jigger · Measuring
To measure the Campari and sweet vermouth.
At home: Small measuring cup or shot glass
Bar Spoon · Mixing
To gently mix the drink without losing the soda fizz.
At home: Long spoon or chopstick

Steps

1
Take your Old Fashioned glass and fill it with ice. A single large cube or a handful of solid cubes works best to keep the drink cold without watering it down too fast.
!Using crushed ice will dilute the drink too quickly and wash out the flavors.
2
Pour 30ml of Campari and 30ml of sweet vermouth directly over the ice. Give it a quick stir with your bar spoon just to combine the two liquids and chill them slightly.
~5s
!Stirring too vigorously before adding soda will just warm the drink up.
3
Top the glass up with chilled soda water, pouring it gently down the side of the glass to keep as much fizz as possible. You'll want about 60ml, or enough to fill the glass to the rim.
!Pouring the soda straight down into the center will make it go flat instantly.
4
Give the drink one gentle, slow pull with your bar spoon from the bottom up to mix the soda through without killing the bubbles. Place an orange slice on the rim or drop it right in, and serve it while it's still fizzing.
!Stirring too fast after adding the soda will knock all the carbonation out.

Serve

Serve it right away in the glass you built it in, while the soda is still crisp and the ice is solid.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Campari

CampariAperol
Match
Common availability
Campari → Aperol: Makes the drink sweeter, less bitter, and more orange-forward with a lighter color.
CampariCappelletti Aperitivo Americano
Match
Specialty availability
Campari → Cappelletti Aperitivo Americano: Slightly more earthy and rust-colored with a softer bitterness than Campari.

Swap options for Sweet Vermouth

Sweet VermouthPunt e Mes
Match
Common availability
Sweet Vermouth → Punt e Mes: Adds a distinct bitter edge to the sweet vermouth, making the drink even more bitter-sweet.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Negroni

The Negroni swaps the soda water for gin, making it much stronger and more spirit-forward.

Match

Both share that signature bitter Campari and sweet vermouth bite, but the Americano is a lighter, fizzy refresher while the Negroni is a stiff, boozy sipper.

In common: bitter-sweet profile, built with Campari and sweet vermouth, orange garnish

Ingredients

Both share

Campari, Sweet Vermouth

Only in Americano

Soda Water

Only in Negroni

Gin

The Americano uses soda water to lengthen the drink, while the Negroni uses gin to strengthen it.

Flavor

Shared flavors

bitter-sweet backbone, orange and herbal notes

How Negroni differs

lighter body, lower alcohol, fizzy texture

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Aperol Spritz

The Aperol Spritz uses Aperol and Prosecco, making it fruitier and less bitter than the Americano.

Match

Both are fizzy, low-alcohol aperitifs, but the Americano is darker and more herbal, while the Aperol Spritz is brighter and more fruit-forward.

In common: low ABV, bitter-sweet, soda top, orange garnish

Ingredients

Both share

Soda Water

Only in Americano

Campari, Sweet Vermouth

Only in Aperol Spritz

Aperol, Prosecco

The Americano relies on Campari and sweet vermouth for depth, whereas the Spritz uses Aperol and Prosecco for a lighter, fruitier profile.

Flavor

Shared flavors

refreshing carbonation, bitter-sweet finish, low alcohol

How Aperol Spritz differs

more herbal, darker flavor, less fruity

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The drink originated as the 'Milano-Torino' at Gaspare Campari's cafe in Milan, named for the origins of its two main ingredients: Campari from Milan and Cinzano vermouth from Turin. It was later renamed 'Americano', likely due to its popularity with American tourists in the early 20th century.

Creator: Gaspare Campari
Era: 1860s
IBA: The Unforgettables
Data version: IBA current spec
Confidence

The exact year of creation is estimated around 1860 when Campari's cafe opened; the name change to Americano is generally placed in the 1920s-1930s.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Use a large ice cube to slow down dilution.
Chill your glass in the freezer for 10 minutes beforehand.
Pour the soda down the side of the glass to keep the fizz.
Try an orange twist instead of a slice for more aromatic oils.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Don't stir aggressively after adding the soda.
Avoid cheap, thin ice that melts instantly.
Don't skip the orange garnish; it ties the flavors together.