It surprises me that I'm writing a post about a recipe for a Campari Margarita. It surprises me because, in fact, it's the only drink with Campari that I've enjoyed.

I'm sure some of you are in the same boat as we are, with a mostly full bottle of Campari sitting around your house. You don't enjoy it so you don't drink it, and you're not sure who you can get to take it off your hands.

This recipe is for you.

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What Is Campari, and What Can You Make with It?
What Can You Make with Campari if You Don't Like It? A Campari Margarita
📖 Recipe

Some time ago, perhaps last year, I decided I wanted to diversify cocktail options in our household. So I bought a bottle of Campari, an Italian apertif. I buy small bottles of new things to try whenever possible, but alas, Campari only came in one size - a full 750ml. I brought the bottle of the liquor home. I didn't know how it would taste, but I made us a cocktail.

We didn't like it.

What Is Campari, and What Can You Make with It?

Campari is bitter. I still can't tell you what the flavor is - perhaps a bitter citrus or grapefruit? I wanted to like it. I searched for other cocktails to make with a nearly full bottle. Here's what we tried:

A Negroni is probably what we originally tried, with gin, sweet (red) vermouth, and Campari
Smitten Kitchen's Rum Campari Punch, which I think we would have really enjoyed had we liked the flavor of Campari
Boulevardiers, the Negroni's bourbon cousin
The Jasmine, which indeed tasted like grapefruit, and which I didn't necessarily mind but wasn't in the mood for often

After lots of experimentation, I still had three quarters of a bottle of the liquor. Nothing takes that much Campari.

What Can You Make with Campari if You Don't Like It? A Campari Margarita

One day I made a margarita and wondered how it would taste if I added a little Campari to it. Tequila's already a little bitter; maybe it would blend in.

And indeed it did. You can still taste the Campari in the margarita, but it belongs there. It doesn't take much of the apertif, but what it does call for is plenty.

campari margarita, with a sugar-rimmed glass and an orange curl, next to a bottle of Campari liqueur

In addition to Campari, this cocktail takes tequila, triple sec, lime juice (fresh is best, of course, but I consider bottled juice fine in the spur of the moment), and agave syrup or simple syrup. You can use honey or sugar if necessary; I've included details in the recipe notes.

There are a lot of Campari Margarita recipes out there. This one is specifically for those of you who don't like Campari very much. Perhaps it's growing on us (although I seriously doubt it), but here's a cocktail made with Campari that we can actually enjoy.

two campari margaritas, in sugar-rimmed glasses, next to a cocktail shaker

Interested in other recipes? I save and share recipes I like or want to try on my Pinterest page - follow me there! You can also check out my Facebook page for more recipes and helpful tips. I'm also happy to try to help troubleshoot my recipes there.

Have you tried this recipe? Or have a question about it? Rate it or leave a comment below! (PS: rating my recipes helps other people find them, too!)

📖 Recipe

two campari margaritas in glasses lined with sugar

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1 from 1 vote

Campari Margarita

A Campari Margarita recipe made specifically for those who don't like Campari that much but are stuck with a bottle of it! Campari blends into a margarita well; it belongs there. This is the best way to work your way through a bottle of Campari.

Prep Time5

Cook Time5

Total Time10

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Campari, Campari Margarita, margarita

Servings: 2

Calories: 251kcal

Author: Leona Konkel

Ingredients

3 ounces white tequila (6 tablespoons)
1.5 ounces triple sec (3 tablespoons)
1.5 ounces lime juice (3 tablespoons)
1 ounce Campari (2 tablespoons)
0.5 ounce agave syrup or simple syrup (2 teaspoons) (to taste)
sugar (optional; to rim the glass)

Instructions

Optional: If you'd like a pretty sugar rim, rub a slice of a lemon, lime, or orange along the rim of the glass. (This can be after you juice limes; you just want a damp edge.) Roll dampened rim in a saucer of sugar. (You can use salt if you like salt on margaritas.)
Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into two glasses and serve.

Notes

There are lots of Campari Margarita recipes out there. This one is specifically a guideline for those people who don't like it in other cocktails.

You can use the same amount of honey in this cocktail, but you should dissolve it in room temperature liquids before adding ice to the shaker.

In a pinch you can dissolve a half tablespoon of sugar into the liquid if you don't have agave syrup, simple syrup, or honey. Dissolve well so the cocktail isn't gritty.

Comments

John says

August 26, 2020 at 9:52 pm

That was the nastiest drink I ever tasted and a waste of tequila. You did warn me and like you I have a bottle of Campari for years. There’s a receipe for a mule that’s not bad. You should try it.

- Leona Konkel says
  
  August 29, 2020 at 5:02 pm
  
  I'm sorry that you didn't like it. I drank this more like a martini, but recently I've been drinking my margaritas over crushed ice and I think this cocktail would benefit from that. I would also probably increase the simple syrup if I were to make it again today.