The First Italian Cocktail.

The Americano cocktail has its origins in 19th-century Italy, where it was first served in Milan around the 1860s. Created by Gaspare Campari, founder of the famed Campari brand, the drink was originally known as the Milano-Torino because of its two signature ingredients: Campari from Milan and sweet vermouth from Turin. To this base, bartenders added soda water, giving the cocktail a refreshing, bittersweet quality. When visiting Americans developed a fondness for the drink, locals began calling it the Americano—a nod both to its popularity among U.S. tourists and its lighter, more approachable style compared to the strong, spirit-forward Italian aperitifs of the time.

Over the decades, the Americano grew into a timeless aperitivo, its bright red hue and gentle effervescence making it a fixture in cafés and bars across Italy and beyond. The cocktail also occupies a special place in popular culture: it was James Bond’s very first drink order in Casino Royale, before he became known for his Martinis. Today, the Americano endures as a symbol of elegance and simplicity—an aperitif that bridges continents, celebrates Italian craftsmanship, and invites slow sipping in the late afternoon sun. Properly served in a Tuscan crystal glass, the Americano continues to prove that sometimes the most enduring classics are also the most straightforward.

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