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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Everyday Life • Alcohol

Campari

Campari is an Italian bitter aperitif and liqueur made from an infusion of herbs, aromatic plants, and fruit in alcohol and water.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Campari is an Italian bitter aperitif liqueur known for its bright red colour and bitter-sweet flavour. It was invented in 1860 by Gaspare Campari and remains a staple in classic cocktails like the Negroni and Americano.

What it is

Campari is a bitter aperitif liqueur made from a secret infusion of herbs, aromatic plants, fruit, alcohol, and water. Its exact recipe is proprietary, but reported ingredients include orange, rhubarb, chinotto, cascarilla, quinine, and ginseng. The result is a vivid red liqueur with a distinctively bitter, herbal, and bittersweet taste.

Key details

Created in 1860 by Gaspare Campari in Italy, it is now produced by the Campari Group. Alcohol content varies by market: commonly 24% ABV in North America and 25% in many European markets, with other bottlings ranging from 20.5% to 28.5% ABV. It is classified as a liqueur, specifically a bitter aperitif.

Why it matters

Campari is a key ingredient in classic cocktails such as the Negroni, Americano, Boulevardier, and Garibaldi. It is widely sold in Canada and used in bars and restaurants for aperitif-style drinks. Its bitter profile makes it a versatile mixer, often served over ice with soda water or citrus.

In short

  • Italian bitter aperitif liqueur with secret herbal recipe
  • Bright red colour and bitter-sweet flavour
  • Essential in cocktails like Negroni and Americano
  • Alcohol content varies by market (20.5–28.5% ABV)
Canadian angle

Campari is widely sold in Canada as a cocktail ingredient and aperitif, and it is commonly used in Canadian bars and restaurants in classic drinks like the Negroni.

Quick questions

What is Campari made of?
Campari is made from a secret infusion of herbs, aromatic plants, fruit, alcohol, and water. Published descriptions mention ingredients such as orange, rhubarb, chinotto, cascarilla, quinine, and ginseng.
What does Campari taste like?
Campari tastes bitter and bittersweet, with herbal and citrus notes. It is intense, dry, and aromatic rather than sweet.
How to drink Campari?
It is commonly served as an aperitif over ice, with soda water, or mixed into cocktails. It can also be paired with citrus juice or sparkling wine.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campari
    Supports: General description, type, origin, ABV range, and production notes.
  2. Campari Academy — https://www.campariacademy.com/training/products-category/everything-you-need-to-know-about-campari/
    Supports: Official description of Campari as a bitter aperitif liqueur, origin, and ingredient framing.
  3. Difford's Guide — https://www.diffordsguide.com/producer/1120/campari/crafting
    Supports: Recipe description, botanical framing, and market-dependent alcohol strengths.
  4. VinePair — https://www.vinepair.com/articles/campari-italy-guide/
    Supports: ABV differences by market and flavour profile.
  5. A Couple Cooks — https://www.acouplecooks.com/campari/
    Supports: Taste description and common cocktail uses.
  6. CooksInfo — https://www.cooksinfo.com/campari/
    Supports: Ingredient descriptions, taste, and ABV.