Campari is the defining Italian aperitif in a classic Americano cocktail.
The Americano combines Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water, usually over ice and garnished with citrus. Its bitterness is softened by sweet vermouth and dilution from the soda, making it a classic aperitivo rather than a strong spirit-forward drink.
The cocktail was originally associated with the name Milano-Torino, referring to Campari from Milan and vermouth from Turin. It was reportedly renamed the Americano because American visitors enjoyed it, although the exact history of the name is debated. The Americano is also historically important because it is the direct precursor to the Negroni: gin replaces the soda water in the later drink. Aperol is sometimes substituted in modern variations, but it is less bitter and is not the defining ingredient of the classic formula.