Campari
Though the recipe is a proprietary secret, its distinctive flavor is bitter orange peel. There is an Italian soft drink, Chinotto which has a similar flavor and it seems likely the Chinotto fruit could form part of the flavoring of Campari.
Campari's bright red color originally came from natural carmine (which is used in other Italian alcoholic drinks, such as Alchermes). Is derived from cochineal, however, in most countries, this has been discontinued in favor of an alternative colorant.
Large-scale production and export began in 1904 when the first production plant was opened in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy. Though bitter Campari is most common today, a sweet Campari, that was light yellow, was once produced. Though unconfirmed, the drink known as Suze, produced by the Pernod company in France, maybe at least similar to the yellow Campari.
Campari is also great with
Negroni
A Negroni is an Italian cocktail, made of one part gin, one part vermouth rosso, and one part Campari, garnished with orange peel. It is considered an aperitivo. Outside of Italy, an orange peel is often used in place of an orange slice. While the drink's origins are unknown, the most widely reported account is that it was first invented in Florence by the dauntless Italian Count Camillo Negroni in the early 20th century.
Americano
The Americano is a soft introduction to the unique and bitter taste of Campari. It is a fascinating drink with a long and rich history, and it was the first cocktail noted in the James Bond novels. This is an iconic and entertaining aperitif that you can enjoy before any meal. The Americano is James Bond's first drink order in "Casino Royale", the 1953 book by Ian Fleming that kicked off the series, and the cocktail again makes an impression in later novels. The Americano was first served in the 1860s at Gaspare Campari’s bar in Milan, Italy. The drink, which highlights Campari and sweet vermouth in equal parts topped with sparkling water, is an effortless take on the Milano-Torino, which contained Campari and sweet vermouth, sans water. It’s thought that the name originated from its popularity among American tourists. The name was affixed after the Prohibition era, when Americans absconded to Europe in droves, thirsty for good drinks. The Americano is an IBA official cocktail composed of Campari, sweet vermouth, and for the sparkling version, club soda and garnished with a slice of lemon. The cocktail was first served in creator Gaspare Campari's bar, Caffè Campari, in the 1860s. The Americano is also thought to be the precursor to the Negroni. As the story goes, the Negroni was invented in Florence by the Italian Count Camillo Negroni in the early 20th century, when he asked a barkeep to tweak his Americano by replacing the soda water with gin.
Boulevardier
The boulevardier cocktail is an alcoholic drink composed of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Campari. Its creation is ascribed to Erskine Gwynne, an American-born writer who founded a monthly magazine in Paris called Boulevardier, which appeared from 1927 to 1932. The drink was also popularized after it was included in Harry MacElhone’s 1927 book "Barflies and Cocktails."