Sometimes spirits are malt, or grain based, sometimes neutral or one-dimensional. Aperitifs bring flavors. A step further are bitters, herbal driven. Campari might be called "herbals grown wild," available in video form on a late-night television near you. The fine, but few fans of Campari do find it to be herbal, sweet and pleasantly bitter. To many others, the mention of Campari brings negative or no reaction. Bitter look into this. The sophisticated need only apply.
Aperitifs are both eye-openers and meal-openers, awakening the appetite and preparing one's taste buds with the divergent, bittersweet flavors. The proper aperitivo, AKA the apéritif precedes its reputation. Campari fills the bill. Introduced in Italy in the 1860's by Gaspare Campari, he was a master drink maker at the Bass Bar in Turin by the age 14. His recipe for Campari contained more than 60 natural ingredients including herbs, spices, barks and fruit peels. Campari initially named his scarlet colored drink "Bitter all'uso d'Hollandia," to capitalize on the popularity of Dutch cordials at the time. Obviously the aperitif had no connection with Holland. The great, make that perfect, recipe captured converts.
Campari (between 20-24% alcohol by volume) introduced the modern age of spirits advertizing. They "allowed" bar owners in Northern Italy and Southern France to buy the in-demand Campari products for their bars under the condition that they would display the 'Campari Bitters' sign at their location. Campari became very popular.
As bitters go, Campari is a mild bitters-type apéritif, often drunk with soda, orange juice, or in mixed drinks. The formula for Campari is a secret known only to the factory director at the main production facility in Milan. Most are certain that the secret blend contains quinine, rhubarb, ginseng, orange peels and aromatic herbs. These are combined and macerated in a blend of distilled water and alcohol for a couple of weeks. Chinotto has contained a similar flavor, making it a prime ingredient suspect.
In Italy, they serve Campari in a frozen glass, using very cold Campari, without ice and with a splash of soda. When you add the soda, you release the flavors. Campari's bright red color comes from natural carmine, which is derived from cochineal, Cochineal is an expensive crimson or carmine dye derived from the cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus), a scale insect in the suborder Homoptera, native to tropical and subtropical South America and Mexico. Yum, yum, better get you some.
In the Italian market and certain others, including Australia, Campari mixed with carbonated water is sold in individual bottles as CampariSoda (10% alcohol by volume). CampariSoda was first created in 1932 and is considered the first pre-mixed drink in the world. CampariSoda is packaged in a distinctive bottle that was designed in the 1930s by Fortunato Depero.
The recipe, which has remained unchanged, originated in Novara in 1860 and is the base for some of the most famous alcoholic beverages around the world. Campari is an alcoholic aperitif obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and fruit in alcohol and water.
Americano Ingredients
½ Campari
½ Cinzano Rosso
Splash of Soda
Ice Cubes
Orange Peel
Preparation- Put ice in glass. Add Campari and Cinzano Rosso and splash of soda water. Decorate with orange peel.
Negroni Ingredients
1/3 Campari
1/3 Cinzano Rosso
1/3 Gin
Ice Cubes
Preparation- Put ice in glass. Add Campari, Cinzano Rosso and Gin and stir well. Garnish with a slice of orange.
The Bix Negroni
3/4 ounce Damrak gin (or other gin)
3/4 ounce Campari
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
Twist of lemon
Preparation- Combine gin, Campari and vermouth in cocktail shaker. Shake, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon.
