Americano →

Photo: c. foodblogchef 2021

AMERICANO
Yield: 1 drink

Ingredients:
1 ½ ounce Campari (sub Aperol for an “Aperol Americano”)
1 ½ ounce Sweet Vermouth
club soda
dash of Orange Bitters (optional)
orange twist

Preparation:
Fill a tall glass with ice, add the Campari and Vermouth, top with club soda, stir, and garnish with an orange twist.

First served in the mid-1800’s at Gaspare Campari’s bar in Milan, Italy, the Americano is said to be the older cousin of the Negroni. Built around equal parts Campari and Sweet Vermouth with club soda, this drink falls into the category of herbaceous, light drinks designed to whet the appetite called “aperitivo” in Italy, or “apéritif” in France. It is said “aperitivo culture”, the daily ritual of stopping at the local cafe after work to unwind and visit with friends over a mild drink and a snack before dinner, is as deeply ingrained in Italy as the Catholic Church and Soccer. If you are not fond of the bitterness of Campari, you can substitute an equivalent measure of Aperol and enjoy an Aperol Americano. Two bits of mixology pop-culture trivia: before Ian Flemming’s James Bond popularized martinis (“shaken not stirred”) and the “Vesper”, the “Americano” was his drink of choice first appearing in the book “Casino Royale” in 1953; secondly, it is thought the drink’s name became formalized during Prohibition when Americans flocked to Europe in search of good drinks and more relaxed European culture. Salute!

Boulevardier Cocktail →

Translated from French, a "boulevardier" is a man-about-town, a bon-vivant, literally a "man who frequents the boulevards". The creation of the cocktail is attributed to Erskine Gwynne, the publisher of “Boulevardier,” a magazine for expats living in Paris in the 1920s. Generally considered to be the cool-weather cousin of the Gin-based Negroni, the Boulevardier is made with either Rye whiskey or Bourbon and Sweet Vermouth. The third ingredient, Campari or Aperol is often interchanged. My version uses Bourbon and the slightly more bitter Campari with the addition of a couple of dashes of Orange Bitters to maintain the orange note in the drink. For those who tire of drinking straight Bourbon, Rye, or Scotch, this cocktail is a welcome alternative. Santé!

Boulevardier
Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 1.5 ounces Bourbon (or Rye)

• 1 ounce Campari

• 1 ounce Sweet Vermouth

• 2 or 3 dashes of Orange Bitters

• orange twist

Preparation:

1. Add the ingredients to a mixing glass or shaker with ice and stir until well chilled.

2. Strain into a Coup straight-up or on the rocks with fresh ice in a Manhattan glass.

3. Garnish with an orange twist.

Enjoy!