For a quick and easy summer tipple, you can’t go wrong with Campari and tonic water.
In this article, you will learn how to make the best Campari and tonic.
Contents
Campari and tonic ingredients
The ingredients for Campari and tonic water are few and easy to find:
A bottle of Campari: Campari should be relatively easy to find in supermarkets and liquor stores.
Tonic water: Any tonic water will do. There are several branded and supermarket versions available these days. Many brands are now also making tonic water with different flavors.
Ice: Don’t forget to make or buy lots of ice if you are going to be making Campari and soda for a crowd.
Garnish: Garnish with slices of orange or lemon or experiment with other citrus fruits like lime or even grapefruit.
Campari and tonic flavors
Campari has a unique bitter-sweet flavor with notes of orange, herbs, and spices.
Tonic water has a slightly bitter taste with a hint of sweetness. The bitterness comes from quinine, a key ingredient that gives tonic water its characteristic flavor.
Tonic water provides a refreshing, crisp base for mixed drinks, balancing out the flavors of stronger ingredients like Campari.
Campari mixed with tonic water creates a refreshing and slightly bitter drink with a citrusy twist.
How to drink Campari and tonic water
Enjoy a Campari and tonic as a pre-dinner drink, also known as an aperitif, to stimulate your appetite and prepare your palate for the meal ahead.
Serve it over ice in a highball glass or in a large wine glass.
Garnish with a slice of lemon or orange to enhance the citrusy aroma.
Recipe variations for Campari and tonic
Tonic water comes in many flavors nowadays, including: lemon, elderflower, pink grapefruit, raspberry and rhubarb.
Experiment with flavors you like to add a twist to your Campari and tonic.
How Italians drink Campari
Campari is often enjoyed in Italy as a pre-dinner aperitif.
It is typically served with soda water and garnished with a slice of orange.
Italians savor Campari in outdoor cafes, known as “aperitivo bars,” during the early evening hours as a way to socialize and unwind after a busy day.
The bitter-sweet taste of Campari is a quintessential Italian experience, enjoyed in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.
Campari and tonic water recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz Campari 57 ml
- 6 oz tonic water 170 ml
- Ice cubes
- 1 orange slice
Instructions
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Add the Campari and tonic water.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
Read with confidence: I am WSET L2 Award in Spirits & Diagio Bar Academy certified.
