There are many ways to enjoy Campari—in a Negroni, with Fernet, with soda and a strip of lemon zest—but none are quite as refreshing as Campari all by itself, provided you shake the heck out of it.
Nothing demonstrates the power of dilution and agitation quite like a shaken Campari. When vigorously shaken with ice, the syrupy, somewhat medicinal liqueur is softened, aerated, and diluted into something that is light, citrusy, and balanced.
You can add little accoutrements like a strip of citrus zest, a sprinkling of salt, or a bar spoon of fernet, but Campari has so much going on, all it really needs is a good shaking. The water from the ice spaces everything out on your palate, opening the amaro up and letting those flavors breath.
It’s (obviously) very easy to make, and perfect for times when your bar cart might be looking a little sparse. To make it, you will need:
- 2 1/2 ounces Campari
Pour the Campari into a shaker full of ice and shake hard until the shaker becomes too cold to comfortably hold. Strain into a coup, enjoy, and repeat as needed.