The Americano, an Italian Masterpiece
Each summer seems to have a signature drink. Not necessarily a trendy creation, but a classic that somehow has surged in popularity. In 2019, that drink was the Aperol Spritz (we’ll have a blog on the ‘how to’ for that cocktail soon). This summer, it wasn’t a specific drink, as much as it was the rediscovery of vermouth. Vermouth is probably best known for being the other ingredient in the classic gin martini. Vermouth was first made in Italy and is a fortified wine that is flavored with other aromatics (herbs and botanicals). There are two main categories of vermouths: dry and sweet. You use a dry vermouth in a gin martini. Although the base wine may have some influence, the sweet vermouths have sugar added, so the difference between the dry and sweet is significant.
Vermouths were first created in Italy and were initially an aperitif, sipped alone prior to a meal. Over time, they were added to various cocktails. Typically, the lighter color vermouths will be dry, and the darker, often red, will be sweet. This convention again dates back to Italy, when the first sweet vermouth was introduced in the late 1700s, and the producer used a red wine to create the sweet version of vermouth.
Before my curiosity around cocktails began, I must admit that I knew very little about vermouth and treated it as an afterthought in my home bar. I thought there was only one manufacturer and bought the smallest bottle possible for the occasional gin martini. Overtime, I’ve come to realize how valuable vermouths can be to the home bartender. This is a spirit with a lot of personality and is very flavorful. It turns out there are a lot of ways to use vermouth, and I was happy to see a lot of articles and discussion this summer around vermouth and vermouth-based cocktails. The next time you visit the liquor store, take a minute to peruse the vermouth section. There are some really nice options these days. I’ve actually been experimenting with some this year and haven’t found a bad one yet.
All of this is the background to the first vermouth-based drink that I’m adding to the Boozer Blog: The Americano. It is no surprise that the Americano has its roots in Italy since the ingredients each originate in Italy. It got its name because this drink was popular with American tourists in the early 20th century, particularly after the first World War when many US soldiers and diplomats were traveling in Italy. It is a quite simple drink, essentially sweet vermouth, Campari and soda water over ice. It’s relatively low in alcohol and perfect for sipping on a summer afternoon. You can have a nice drink, and not feel like you’ve overdone the alcohol. It is similar to the Aperol Spritz in that regard.
If you don’t have experience with Campari the flavor may be a bit of a surprise at first taste. This is a very bitter liqueur that provides a distinctive flavor to cocktails like the Negroni and Americano. Campari originates from Italy and has this beautiful red color which is highlighted in this cocktail. The Americano is a beautiful drink to look at. It is essentially a play on sweet and sour, and when red Campari is mixed with a red vermouth it is an Italian masterpiece in a glass. As I noted in a recent blog post, the Boozer Blog is international, and my European readers are likely much more familiar with the Americano than we in the US. My apologies in advance 
to my European readers, because after testing various combinations, I have landed on what is probably a more American version of this drink. The traditional Americano is made with equal parts sweet vermouth and Campari. To my taste buds, the Campari just overwhelms with that ratio. I have landed on a 2:1 ratio, 2 parts sweet vermouth to one-part Campari. You still get that great bitter-sweet flavor, but the Campari is tamed a bit more with my ratio. If you are familiar with Campari and crave a stronger bitter component, just make the ratio 1:1. You pour this over ice and add soda water. Be sure to use a spoon to mix, pulling up from the bottom to ensure everything comes together. For garnish it is traditional to use citrus, typically lemon or orange.
Cheers! To health, happiness, and a good drink!
