Campari

The undisputed icon of aperitivo

STATS

When: 1860

Where: Milan

Who: Gaspare Campari and his sons, Davide and Guido

ABV: 24%

Color: bright-scarlet red

Tasting notes: Gentian and orange peel bitterness, light spice

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HISTORY

Gaspare Campari started out as an apprentice distiller in the early 1840s in Torino. In the mid-1850s, he returned to his hometown, Novara, to start his own distillery. In 1862, the business moved to Milan, where he opened a caffè across from the Duomo. His iconic aperitivo liqueur was originally called “Bitter all’Uso d’Olanda” (“Holland-style Bitter), which, over time, was shortened to “Bitter Campari,” and none thereafter as just “Campari.”