Nothing quite beats winding down with a glass of wine or beer after a long week of work, especially in the warm weather. In fact, making the most of the sunny evenings with a drink in hand feels almost compulsory in the UK, especially if you can find a beer garden. It’s not just a practice in the UK though, there are plenty of countries that embrace the culture of an early evening drink, especially in Europe where the tradition of having an apéritif can be traced back to.
Popular in France and Italy, an apéritif is commonly served before a meal, and can supposedly help stimulate your appetite ahead of dinner. But instead of downing pints of beer, which can often leave you feeling more full, the European style of an early evening drink tends to incorporate liqueurs. While it can be an acquired taste, and is often slightly bitter, I personally love anything that incorporates the likes of Aperol, Campari and Vermouth, and an Aperol Spritz is often my go-to cocktail.
Liqueurs can be an acquired taste, but I’ve developed a love for them having spent the past few years working in hospitality, where they’re often used to cleanse the palette. When you’re constantly trying new dishes, simply adding a dash of vermouth to a glass of soda can help cleanse your palette, and keep you hydrated (sort of).
Paired with Prosecco, an Aperol is generally less bitter than most apéritifs, but it also requires committing to a bottle of the fizzy stuff which can quickly go flat. Fed up of having to pour flat Prosecco down the sink, I decided to try a cocktail expert’s recipe for an Americano, which is sort of like the older, more mature sibling to an Aperol.
While it does use Campari and Vermouth, which are two liqueurs I love, it adds a splash of soda water which slightly softens the drink. It was incredibly refreshing, and a perfect early evening drink that didn’t feel as intense as a negroni, which is made of equal parts gin, Vermouth and Campari.
Served over a glass of ice, I enjoyed sipping on it as I prepared dinner, and felt less bloated than I would have if I’d drunk a beer or even a glass of wine.
Pauline Martin Rodriguez, a consultant at DrinksWorld, who shared the recipe, also pointed out that cocktails like an Americano don’t require any expensive home bar setups or even a cocktail shaker, and can simply be stirred in the glass.
The word cocktail can often feel intimidating, but there’s plenty that only require a few ingredients and come together in moments. An Americano is perfect for a warm evening after work, or even to serve at a dinner party before sitting down to eat.
I simply used a shot glass to measure the liquers, and filled the rest of the glass with soda water. You can also use a potato peeler to make a garnish from an orange slice too.
How to make a light and refreshing Americano
Ingredients:
One oz Campari
One oz sweet vermouth
Top with soda water
Service over ice in a rocks glass with a twist of orange peel and sip slowly to enjoy.