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Drink of the Month - April 2010                                                                                                    Back to Drink of the Month

Americano

No, not coffee.  The original "Americano" has some history that I will quiz Aidan on! He may not admit it, but I have beaten him on more than one occasion at "007 Scene It".

According to Wikipedia:

The Americano is a cocktail composed of Campari, sweet vermouth, and club soda. The cocktail was first served in creator Gaspare Campari's bar, Cafe Campari, in the 1860s. It was originally known as the "Milano-Torino" because of its ingredients: Campari, the bitter liqueur, is from Milan and Cinzano, the vermouth, is from Turin (Torino). In the early 1900s, the Italians noticed a surge of Americans who enjoyed the cocktail. As a compliment to the Americans, the cocktail later became known as the "Americano". It is the first drink ordered by James Bond in the first novel in Ian Fleming's series, Casino Royale. In the short story "From a View to a Kill" Bond chooses an Americano as an appropriate drink for a mere cafe; suggesting that "in cafes you have to drink the least offensive of the musical comedy drinks that go with them." Bond always stipulates Perrier, for in his opinion expensive soda water was the cheapest way to improve a poor drink.

The Vesper Martini (or the manner in which it was ordered) overshadowed the Americano in the books and movies.

And so, in honour of a great flick, lets have an Americano!

Standard Americano:

• 3.0 cl Sweet Vermouth
• 3.0 cl Bitter Campari
• Top with club soda
• Garnish: orange slice and lemon peel

Pour over ice into a collins glass.