Italian Margarita - for the love of Campari

Memorial Day weekend is finally here in the United State and it also officially means that it’s the start of summer – FINALLY – I mean, we just hit 80 degrees this week and it feels oh-so-good. I was really getting annoyed with waking up to a cold house and constantly living in sweaters and pants. I was born in Florida and there is ultimately one thing that will still remain in my blood, love of the warm sun. Not hot, but warm – perfect temperatures if I put it so eloquently.

As Italy has been opening up little by little, I’ve been enjoying seeing spring blooms, clear sea water, and people smizing (smiling with the eyes but this time behind a mask). I’m completely nostalgic, but we have a wonderful little background area at our home in Boston, complete now with some backyard furniture, some reclining lounge chairs, an umbrella and garden. If I close my eyes, I pretend that I’m sitting on the seaside in Liguria feeling the light mist of salt water hitting my face.

Long weekends and summertime usually means that it’s time to cool off with an ice cold drink. I usually reach for a Spritz, or as of late my Italian Greyhound has become a favorite, but I’ve been dabbling a bit into my Mexican food habits and while revisiting old photos from our trip last year, I was missing the taste of an ice cold margarita. I had a mix of margaritas, aguas fescas and fresh coconuts during the trip to the Yucatan – and of course a ton of bottled water because it was July and that meant it was hot, hot, hot.

Roberto and I at the Ruins in Uxmal, Mexico

Side of the road fresh coconuts are simply the best.

Mango Aguas Frescas quickly became another favorite drink of mine in Mexico.

During my trip to pick up some wine this week, I ventured into the tequila aisle and decided it was time to try and perfect a margarita. Not just any margarita, but one that infused one of my favorite Italian liqueurs, Campari.

Campari is more on the bitter side and has a deep red color to it. It’s traditionally used to mix in a Negroni (gin, Campari, sweet vermouth), Sbagliato (sub prosecco instead of gin), or just alone with soda. This liqueur for me is one of my favorites and I love to see what other concoctions I can think of next.

After a few adjustments to achieve my desired Campari Margarita, I can say that it will definitely be a summer weekend staple for me. While traveling is hard during this time, that won’t stop me from finding ways to keep the spirit alive at home. This margarita will surely do the trick and is uniquely satisfying. Here’s how you can do it at home too!

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Silver Tequila – whichever brand you prefer! I’m using Hornito’s that I ended up trying for the first time at a friend’s Mexican Taco Night
3/4 oz Campari
1 oz. Triple Sec (Orange Liqueur)
1 Fresh Squeezed Lime
1/2 Fresh Squeezed Orange
1-2 tablespoons agave sweetener or sweetener of your choice
Optional: Splash of seltzer water , I used Pellegrino with mine
Optional: Salt for rim

Preparation:

Start with cleaning your lime and orange and slicing it in half to get it ready for juicing.
Take a clean glass and using the lime that is cut in half, run it around the rim of the glass.
Take a plate and put finely ground salt and dip the rim of the glass in. Shake off any excess salt.

Place ice inside and prepare your shaker.
Inside the shaker, squeeze the entire lime and half of the orange inside. Add 1-2 tablespoons of agave, 1.5 oz of silver tequila, 3/4 oz of Campari, and 1 oz of triple sec.
Shake it up for a good 30 seconds and then strain over ice into the glass.

Garnish with a lime and orange slice and you are ready for some summertime sippin’!

I hope that you enjoy this new way to use Campari! When I close my eyes, I can sip on this and remind myself of the blue waters of Mexico or see the beautiful Ligurian coastline as an infused wave of fresh citrus dances on my taste buds.

I hope that you all have a great first weekend of summer, wherever you are – stay safe, take a breath, and take time to slow down and smile 🙂

Please let me know how you like this version of a margarita in the comments below! Be sure to follow along on Social and Subscribe to my newsletter. I always love hearing from you!