Campari
THL: What is it?
We can guess that this spirit is made with an infusion of herbs, fruit, and aromatic plants, but the only known ingredients in the Campari recipe are alcohol and water.
THL: Why should you try it?
Even without knowing what Campari is, you’ve certainly seen it before. This iconic red Italian amaro makes an appearance in cocktails like the Americano, Negroni, and Campari and Soda. Don Draper and company from Mad Men drank this cocktail by the gallon. Campari is one of those love-it-or-hate-it spirits, and you’ll know if you love it after the third try. Bitter and tart, it’s like taking a huge bite of an early season grapefruit. And if you love it, you’ll keep coming back to this time and time again.
THL: Who makes it?
Campari's production dates back more than 150 years to Novara, Italy, where Gaspare Campari was experimenting with infusing herbs, plants and fruits in alcohol and water. He opened the company's first official distillery in Sesto San Giovanni around 1900, and the rest (including the creation of the Negroni cocktail) is history. Now Campari is made at the Gruppo Campari production facility in Novi, Italy.
THL: What does it taste like?
grapefruit zest
THL: How should you drink it?
My favorite drink to make with Campari, bar none, is a Negroni It has equal parts gin (I like Plymouth), Campari, and Italian sweet vermouth.
