Campari Milano

Campari is the vivid crimson heart of Italian aperitivo, and the “Milano” name nods to its spiritual home: it was here that Campari became Milan’s drink of choice, poured at the city’s grand cafés before dinner. It’s a bittersweet aperitif built on a closely guarded infusion of herbs and fruit in alcohol and water — a recipe only a handful of people know — giving it that signature bracing bitterness threaded with orange peel and aromatic spice. At 24% ABV, it’s bold but balanced: bitter up front, with a long, appetite-sharpening finish.

This is the bottle behind the cocktails everyone knows. Campari is the essential bitter in a Negroni (with gin and sweet vermouth) and an Americano (with vermouth and soda), both of which descend from the original Milano-Torino — Campari from Milan, vermouth from Turin. Or keep it simple: pour over ice with a splash of soda and an orange slice for a classic aperitivo serve. At $18.99 for a 375ml bottle, it’s the ideal size to keep your home bar Negroni-ready.