Is amaro the same as Campari?

Yes, Campari is an Amaro. Amaro simply means ‘bitter’ in Italian. It is not a drink per say, it is a family of liqueurs. And Campari is a bitters, or Amaro.

Amaro and Campari are two Italian liqueurs that have much in common but also some distinct differences. Both are usually served as aperitifs, or drinks that help to whet the appetite before dinner.

Amaro is made from an infusion of herbs, spices, flowers, and fruits while Campari is made from a blend of herbs, citrus fruits, and other plant extracts which gives it its characteristic red color.

Amaro typically has a higher alcohol content than Campari — up to 40 percent ABV compared to 24-32 percent for Campari — and tends to be less sweet. It also has more bitterness than Campari due to the presence of roots like gentian as well as citrus peels.

A few amaros like Strega may include additional flavors such as chocolate or coffee but these are not commonplace in standard recipes.

In terms of flavor profile, Amaro has earthier notes while Campari leans towards fruitiness with hints of orange peel and juniper berry among others.

Both drinks can be served neat or mixed into cocktails such as Negronis or Americanos but amaro is often used in more complex recipes due to its deeper complexity compared with the sweeter notes of Campari.

Campari Basics

Campari is a bitter, red-colored aperitif made from an infusion of herbs, spices and fruit. Popular drinks made with Campari include the Negroni and the Americano. The Negroni is a classic Italian cocktail combining equal parts gin, Vermouth Rosso and Campari topped off with an orange peel garnish.

The Americano replaces gin with soda water, creating a light and refreshing drink that’s perfect for summer days.

Additionally, the Boulevardier swaps out gin for whisky to create an interesting twist on the classic Negroni. Finally, Campari can be used as an ingredient in many other drinks to add depth of flavor or provide color contrast such as the Paper Plane which features equal parts Aperol, Amaro Nonino and Bourbon whiskey shaken together with fresh lemon juice.

Drinks Made With Campari

Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritz is a classic Italian cocktail made from Aperol, prosecco, and soda water. It is light, refreshing, and slightly sweet with a hint of bitterness. The drink has become popular in recent years due to its low-alcohol content and mellow flavor.

Other drinks that are made with Campari include the Negroni, Americano, Garibaldi, and Boulevardier.

The Negroni is a simple yet balanced combination of Campari, gin or vodka, and sweet vermouth. The Americano is similar but swaps out the gin for club soda or sparkling water to make it lighter in taste.

The Garibaldi adds freshly squeezed orange juice to the mix while the Boulevardier combines Campari with bourbon instead of gin.

All four drinks have become staples of modern cocktail culture thanks to their exciting flavor profiles that are sure to please any palate.

Negroni

The Negroni is a classic Italian drink made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin. It is simple to make and can be served as an apéritif or as a digestif after dinner.

To make a perfect Negroni, start with equal parts of Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin poured over ice in an old-fashioned glass. Then stir the mixture lightly until all ingredients are well combined.

Garnish with an orange twist for added citrus notes.

A Boulevardier is another delicious cocktail that uses Campari as its base spirit. It follows the same recipe as a Negroni but swaps out the gin for whiskey or bourbon.

The result is a slightly sweeter taste with deeper flavors from the whiskey or bourbon. This cocktail can also be garnished with an orange twist to bring out more of its citrusy flavor profile.

Finally, you can also make The Americano which was created by Gaspare Campari himself in 1860 in Milan Italy! The Americano combines Campari and sweet vermouth topped off with sparkling soda water instead of gin and can be garnished with lemon peel or lime wedge instead of orange twist for extra citric acidity!

Americano Cocktail

The Americano cocktail is a classic Italian beverage that was first served in the early 1900s. Made with Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water, it has become a popular drink around the world. The combination of flavors creates a unique and refreshing drink that can be enjoyed anytime.

Many variations of the Americano exist today, but the traditional recipe contains equal parts of Campari and sweet vermouth mixed with soda water to taste. It is often garnished with an orange or lemon slice for added flavor.

Other variations include using fresh juices such as orange or grapefruit juice instead of soda water or swapping out the sweet vermouth for dry vermouth. Some recipes even call for adding Prosecco to create a bubbly twist on the classic concoction.

No matter how you choose to make it, an Americano cocktail made with Campari is sure to please!

Boulevardier

A Boulevardier blends the assertive bitterness of Campari with the sweet richness of bourbon whiskey and a small amount of vermouth. It is an ideal after-dinner drink, though it can easily be enjoyed as an aperitif.

A classic Boulevardier recipe calls for equal parts Campari, sweet Italian vermouth, and bourbon whiskey. This combination creates a smooth blend that balances out the flavors of each individual ingredient.

For those who prefer their drinks less boozy than a traditional Boulevardier, there are variations on this cocktail that use less or no Campari at all.

For example, some recipes replace the Campari with orange liqueur or dry gin to create lighter variations on the classic drink.

Additionally, some recipes recommend substituting rye whiskey in place of bourbon to give the cocktail more complexity and spiciness.

Variations & Combinations

Campari is a popular Italian aperitif made from bittersweet orange, herbs and spices. It is commonly served as an apéritif before meals or as an ingredient in drinks. There are many variations and combinations of Campari cocktails to create delicious refreshments for any occasion.

One combination with Campari is the classic Negroni, which is equal parts Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth stirred over ice and garnished with an orange slice.

Another variation is the Boulevardier, which substitutes whiskey for gin in the Negroni recipe. The Americano cocktail also uses Campari along with sweet vermouth and soda water on ice with a lemon twist garnish.

For something sweeter, try the Spritz Veneziano which combines sparkling white wine like Prosecco or Asti Spumante with Campari and sparkling water over ice.

Finally there’s the Bicicletta — white wine blended with campari, citrus juice, sugar syrup over ice topped off club soda for a refreshingly light drink that’s perfect for summer days!