Bitter-Sweet Sparkling Americano

I absolutely adore this time of year, no matter the history, it is a time when families and friends come together to drink and eat more than any other time of year. And, as much as I love food, I really love entertaining and mixing drinks for my friends. It’s actually how Beautiful Booze got started 5 years ago; I was just hosting dinners with friends and mixing drinks for them, then sharing my recipe on my simple blog. I’m excited to share today’s cocktail recipe with you because it’s light and refreshing – perfect for sharing this holiday season. For this recipe, I’ve partnered with Spindrift sparkling water, the first sparkling water that’s made with real squeezed fruit and nothing else. Spindrift is delicious on its own, but it works so well as a mixer because it’s packed with so much flavor and color from the squeezed fruit.

This cocktail is a spin on the classic Americano cocktail, a great homage to the cocktail that was originally called the Milano-Torino, due to the origins of the two primary ingredients, however, this cocktail was so popular with Americans at Caffè Campari that they re-named it in the 1920s. I skipped on the sweet vermouth in this version and instead used some agave nectar to bring a rounded sweetness that really compliments the Campari. (This cocktail is also great for sharing with friends and family because it’s low ABV – with Campari only being 24% alcohol (in the US)). In place of the soda that the recipe usually calls for, I used the Spindrift because it has the same effervescence as soda but an even richer flavor (and color!). Cranberry Raspberry Spindrift really compliments the Campari notes.