With its magnificent colour and iconic botanical complexity, the Italian spirit Campari, which we have sent our members in their September 2020 Gin of the Month box, is a cornerstone of many quintessential gin drinks. If you have ever taken a joyous sip of that classic cocktail, the Negroni, then you will know why. Campari and gin are a match made in heaven!
What you may not have tried, however, is simply adding Campari to your G&T. We have and it’s stunning! You have to try the recipe below. There, you’ll also find everything you need to know about Campari, including why it’s a must-have tipple for every true gin-thusiat.
Campari Gin & Tonic
“Bittersweet Campari balances the astringency of the tonic and complements the gin’s own botanicals with a trademark infusion of bitter herbs and aromatic plants. The so-called ‘Milanese G&T’ is an intriguing, thirst-quenching twist on a classic.”
Ingredients
25ml Campari
25ml Gin
Top with premium tonic water
Lime wedge, to garnish
Method
Fill a Copa glass with ice. Add your Campari, gin and tonic. Stir gently and garnish to serve.
Get everything you need for this amazing recipe in one wonderful bundle from our online shop, here!
Style and Substance
Since the first sip of Campari was poured in 1860, the top-secret recipe for this iconic Italian spirit has remained exactly the same – and now, more than 150 years later, Campari has more than earned its spot in the annals of cocktail history.
Campari was created in Milan, the glittering capital of Italian style in the north of the country. In fact, its invention coincided with Italian unification, when the states of the Italian peninsula came together to create the nation we know today. As such, Campari captures a key moment in Italian history and has become the symbol of one of Italy’s most cherished cultural rituals: aperitivo.
“Aperitivo is deeply rooted in Italian culture, and Campari is at its heart. It’s the moment in the day when the city comes together to celebrate life, and the scene is dominated by the vibrant red of Campari cocktails, passionate conversations and expressive, smiling faces.”
Image: Campari
By the 1910s, Campari’s enterprising new president, Davide Campari – the son of this spirit’s original creator, Gaspare – had begun harnessing the new art of advertising to capture everything his drink was about: style, substance and the art of enjoying life. Its popularity exploded, and drinkers all around the world were eager to experience the art of aperitivo through Campari’s beauty and complexity.
These days, Campari is most famous as one-third of one of the most famous gin cocktails in the world: the Negroni. Elegant, bitter and beautiful in the glass, this cocktail celebrated its 100th anniversary just last year. It was 1919 when Count Negroni – inspired by a recent trip to London, where he discovered a city awash with gin – asked a bartender in Florence to swap the soda water in his Americano cocktail for London Dry gin. A classic of Italian cocktail culture was born.
The Negroni found a new following in the UK in the 2000s – and its increased popularity, according to the Huffington Post, helped to launch the craft gin revolution.
But the stylish denizens of Northern Italian cities didn’t need to be reminded of this classic cocktail’s complexity and appeal.
“At dusk, when the Milanese celebrate the evening with a cocktail, Campari’s vibrant, passionate red decorates bar tables all over town. It’s an explosion of colour”
The Root of It
But what makes Campari – be it in a Negroni, a Campari Gin & Tonic or any number of other cocktails – a perfect companion for gin? The answer to that is the trademark bitterness of this beautiful spirit, imparted by a super-secret combination of bitter herbs.
“Bitters are embraced for their ability to add complexity and intrigue to drinks. Historically, bitters were loved for their medicinal values. These days, depending on their composition, they can work perfectly as an appetiser or a digestive. Campari straddles both worlds.”
Image: Campari
In the piazzas of Northern Italy, glimmering red Negronis are sipped before dinner to stimulate the appetite. The complex, bitter taste of this ruby-red drink will entrance you the first time you taste it, and reveal how much it has in common with our favourite spirit.
“At first, bitters can be a challenging taste. But once absorbed and mastered, their complexity offers an invigorating and immensely rewarding experience.”
Negroni
“Campari is the original ingredient in this classic cocktail. Each will, no doubt, have a signature serve, but the classic method, made simply in the glass so as not to disturb the delicate botanicals in the Campari, remains the most popular execution.”
Ingredients
25ml gin
25ml Campari
25ml red vermouth
Orange peel, to garnish
Method
Fill a rocks glass with ice and add your liquid ingredients. Stir gently until combined and diluted. Garnish and enjoy.
plus all of your
plus all of your
plus all of your