ABOUT

The Americano is a simple introduction to the slightly addictive bitter qualities of Campari.

A serve with a long history, it was the first cocktail mentioned in the James Bond novels.

An iconic Aperitif that can be enjoyed before any meal.

The cocktail recipe itself is extremely simple with equal parts of Campari and Sweet Vermouth being poured over ice and topped with soda.

A BRIEF HISTORY

Like many cocktails the Americano’s origin is unknown but there are a number of stories.

With the oldest being that the cocktail was first served

in creator Gaspare Campari's bar, Caffè Campari, Milan, in the 1860s

Another story goes back to the 1930s, stating the cocktail was named in honour of the Italian boxer Primo Carnera, who boxed out of the United States, and for that reason was called the Americano

The Americano is the direct descendant of the "Milano-Torino" which consisted of Campari, the bitter liqueur from Milan (Milano) and Punt e Mes, the vermouth from Turin (Torino) but lacked soda water. This drink was itself a descendant of the "Torino-Milano", a concoction consisting of equal parts Campari and Amaro Cora.

The Americano is the first drink ordered by James Bond in the first novel in Ian Flemings's series, Casino Royale.

In From Russia With Love, Bond drinks "two excellent Americanos" in Rome during his flight to Istanbul. In the short story "From a View to a Kill", Bond chooses an Americano as an appropriate drink for a mere café; suggesting that "in cafés you have to drink the least offensive of the musical comedy drinks that go with them.

Bond always stipulates Perrier for his choice of dilution, as in his opinion, expensive soda water was the cheapest way to improve a poor drink.