Another sweet fun fact: the Americano is also James Bond’s beverage of choice in Casino Royale. The Americano has a prime spot on the official cocktail list of the International Bartending Association (IBA), meaning that it is prepared all around the globe to this exact original recipe. There are many stories surrounding the origins and name of this infamous cocktail, one of which claims that it is an homage to Primo Carnera, the first Italian (and non-American) to win the world heavyweight boxing championship in America. A spirit that demands to be the star and never overcomplicated, consider these a journey through time (and Italy) from the rim of the cocktail glass.
Made up of an infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants, and fruit, the spirit’s recipe remains unchanged to this very moment, and only two individuals in the world know of its exact contents.Ī soulful way to attempt to guess its secret formula, read ahead for some of our favourite official Campari cocktail recipes. The original ‘Camparino’ bar is still open today, serving both the classic creations from back in the day, as well as modern reinterpretations. Campari advertising posterĪs classic cocktails gained popularity throughout the years, Campari became a staple in bars around the globe, especially after the invention of the Americano and the Negroni in the 1920s. It’s a heartwarming tale of quite possibly the sweetest marketing strategy in alcohol history. As a final jump, the singer then started performing on Broadway, causing Davide to follow heart and suit once again, and begin distribution in the States, and on to the rest of the world. Lina soon rose to great fame and began singing in France, shortly after which distribution of Campari extended from Italy to the competitive neighbouring country of France, too.Īs Lina became even more internationally desired, she moved to Russia, where she also got married, and again, Campari followed, expanding its network over the Eastern European countries. Lina would sing at the opera just a few metres from the Camparino, and it quickly became fanciful evening protocol for opera visitors to have an aperitivo at the bar after the performance. Early Campari postersĪs for its distribution, a sweet anecdotal bird tells the story of Gaspare’s son, Davide, falling in love with Italy’s greatest opera singer of the time, Lina Cavalieri. The brand became known for its precious collaborations with artists to create extravagant advertising posters, marking the beginnings of Campari’s connections to the world of art. Upon moving to Milan, the father of four opened the ‘Caffé Campari’ (now ‘Camparino’) bar in the city centre next to the famous Duomo, which quickly became the centre of Milan’s artistic and cultural scene. With a vibrant red colour and an intense aroma, it comes as no surprise that the alcoholic spirit became a hit soon after Gaspare started selling it in his shop.
Campari gets its name from its founder, Gaspare Campari, who conjured up the distinctive bitter flavoured liquid in Novara, Italy, in the 1860s.