Americano Cocktail Recipe with Ingredients and Instructions

The Americano is a low-alcohol Italian aperitif made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water. It is the lighter ancestor of the Negroni, keeping the same bitter-sweet red profile but replacing gin with bubbles and lift. This Americano recipe is built in the glass over ice, so the drink stays easy, bright, and refreshing. Campari brings bitterness and orange peel, vermouth adds winey sweetness and spice, and soda stretches everything into a long aperitif. Serve it before dinner with an orange slice or lemon twist when you want Negroni-like flavor without the full strength. Its lower strength also makes it useful for long aperitivo sessions.