Bourbon, Campari, and citrus make the Italian Gentleman a lovely whiskey aperitivo.
4 Foolproof Whisky and Campari Cocktail Recipes
September 11, 2019 –––––– Jake Emen
With its bright red glow and booming bitterness there's no mistaking Campari, and it can be off-putting at first. “Being Italian, I really like the bitter taste,” says Angelo Sparvoli, bartender at The American Bar at The Savoy in London. “In fact, we say ‘bitter is better.'”Campari's bitter quality delivers balance and complex flavors to a cocktail. “It's very zesty, with pronounced orange on the nose and notes of citrus and vanilla,” Sparvoli adds. Whisky has the necessary backbone to hold up to the bitterness of Campari, which in turn provides a counterpoint to a whisky's sweeter side.That marriage of flavors can now be found in a single bottle. In September 2019, Campari unveiled Cask Tales, a new version of the classic aperitif finished in bourbon barrels. The extra whiskey touch makes it ideal for trying out in some of the cocktails below.“Campari is the sort of product that might be hard to enjoy neat, but when mixed it transforms the entire cocktail,” suggests Sparvoli. “It gives the right spicy and citrus notes and adds body and texture to the drinks.”It's wise to measure all cocktail ingredients, and that's especially true of Campari, since a small amount can have huge impact. The classic Boulevardier is whiskey's answer to a Negroni (made with gin), offering a wondrous depth of flavor from equal parts American whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Campari. In the Last Call (recipe below), Sparvoli riffs on the Boulevardier using peated scotch and ruby port. “It's a twist on a classic Boulevardier, using in this case Bunnahabhain 12 year old, which is quite round, chocolaty, and softly peated compared to others such as Laphroaig or Lagavulin,” he says.
