Bitter "Campari": description, composition, history, origin and reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Campari Bitter - alcoholic drink, a small sip of which is enough to remember its spicy bitter taste forever. In recent years, it has gained extraordinary popularity, although it is not consumed as often as tequila or other liquors. So, what is included in the bitter and how to drink it? Let's figure it out.

Drink description

"Campari" - bitter, or liquor that came to us from amazing hot Italy. The strength of the drink is 25 degrees. Aromatic herbs and fruits are used as the basis of the famous Italian bitters. Bitter "Campari" differs from other alcoholic beverages in a bright bitter taste with a sharp aroma of herbs, spices and orange peel. Woody notes and a hint of grapevine are also heard. Despite the fact that the primary purpose of the Italian tincture is an aperitif, Campari (bitter) is included in many cocktails.

Drink history

According to rumors, Gaspare Campari, a native of Italy, was born and raised in a poor family. All his life hetried to earn money and did it in different ways. So, one day, during the experiments, a bitter appeared. As a young man, Gaspare worked for some time as an assistant master who mixed alcoholic beverages. It was during this work that he gained experience in such a peculiar art, and this is how the history of the Campari bitter began. After some time, the Italian accumulated a small amount of money, which was enough to open a pastry shop, and later a cafe called Cafe Campari in the city of Novara. It was in this establishment in 1860 that visitors first tasted a ruby-colored drink with a bitter taste.

Due to the specific taste, the demand for Campari spirits quickly began to increase. The income was so great that the Gaspare family decided to come to grips with the production of alcohol. Thanks to affordable prices for the drink for the people, sales have become effective, and even with growing profits. Of the entire existing range of alcohol in 1867 in Italy, it was the Campari bitter that sold best, which was the reason for the founding of Gruppo Campari, which is engaged in the production and sale of this tincture. In 1904, the production of the drink was carried out at a plant in the city of Sesto San Giovanni, in the province of Milan.

Soon the Campari bitter appeared in the cities of France. Today, Gruppo Campari's main product is popular in 200 countries and is far from the last place among elite spirits.

What is bitter made of?

For Gaspare Campari drinkcharacterized by a strong aroma and a pronounced bitter taste. According to tasters, notes of blackberry, moss, grapevine, stones and forest floor are felt in the pleasant smell of bitter. But in the spicy taste, the presence of roots, honey, citrus peel, quinine, ashes and even earth is felt.

In fact, the company does not disclose the recipe for the drink. "Campari" (bitter) is produced in the form of a tincture of aromatic herbs and citrus fruits, which is then diluted with sugar syrup and water, after which dyes are added. It was not possible to establish the exact amount of ingredients that make up the alcoholic beverage. Previously, their number ranges from 40 to 68, including myrtle orange, yellow gentian, calamus, cascarolla and, probably, finger rhubarb.

The bright ruby color of the drink until 2006 was obtained by adding carmine food coloring. Over time, it was replaced by artificial coloring agents. It is believed that bitter contains a narcotic substance with strong hallucinogenic properties (thujone). However, according to the results of numerous checks, this fact was not confirmed.

Italy is the birthplace of Campari and not only…

Italians usually drink aperitifs before meals. Most often it is a light white wine. A glass of white and red wine can be consumed with meals, but at the end of the meal, drinks are served that improve digestion: cognac, vermouth-like liqueur, or grappa.

It is believed that the most popular alcoholic drink in Italy isnamely bitter "Campari", the price of which ranges from 9.5 to 12 euros per bottle. The Sambuca liqueur is no less common in the country; wheat alcohol, sugar, extracts of flowers, star anise, elderberries and various herbs are used for its preparation. The average cost of one bottle reaches 15 euros. The most popular sambuca among Italians is Molinari Sambuca Extra. But Grappa is the strongest drink in Italy. In terms of alcohol content, it can be compared with vodka. Accordingly, this is a drink for an amateur. A half-liter bottle of Grappa will cost from 7 to 10 euros.

Usage rules

How to drink a drink produced by Gaspare Campari? In fact, there is nothing supernatural in this. Bitter can be drunk in two ways:

• Clean and untouched. In such cases, an alcoholic drink is served before meals and always in a chilled glass. You can add some ice if you like. Manufacturers, however, like the natives of Italy, claim that bitter helps to improve appetite. A drink served in shots is drunk in one gulp, and in a large glass - in small sips. Fresh citruses, plums or grapes are the ideal starter for bitters. You should not experiment and try "Campari" warm, so you will not only not feel the whole palette of taste, but you will also be upset by an unpleasant flavor.
• With juices or soda. Bitter "Campari" in combination with citrus juice and plenty of ice perfectly quenches thirst. And here is the cherrypomegranate emphasize the exquisite blend. Campari soda is usually served at summer parties.

Interesting facts

What else do we not know about Campari?

• Firstly, it is an aperitif that is drunk before meals to improve digestion.
• Secondly, Campari is a bitter, because it has a bitter taste, which means it promotes the secretion of gastric juice.
• Thirdly, Campari can be attributed to vermouth.
• And finally, the original drink was stained with carmine. This dye was extracted from the dried bodies of female cochineal. Cochineal mealybugs are used in the manufacture of lipstick, candy and vermouth.

Customer Reviews

Most people have not been able to appreciate the taste of Campari in its purest form. As many buyers note, despite the attractive bright ruby color, the bitter taste is still very repulsive. But in combination with fruit juices and ice, the drink turns out really great.

Cocktails with Campari bitters

There are several win-win options for making drinks obtained by mixing different ingredients:

• Pretty strong Negroni cocktail, consisting of white vermouth, bitters and gin. This is the drink of real Italian mafiosi.
• Feminine White Campari cocktail, which includes Campari liqueur and dry white wine.
• In Italy and Greece resorts often serve the thirst-quenching Adriatic. Prepare thisa cocktail of Campari, vodka, orange juice and lemon liqueur.

Today the Campari bitter is one of the most popular drinks. Perhaps this is due to the promotions, which were attended by the stars of show business, including Jessica Alba, Mila Jovovich, Eva Mendes and Salma Hayek.