Ah, Campari, iconic bitter aperitif and staple Negroni ingredient. However, it had some rather humble beginnings. The history of Campari begins back in Novara, Italy, in 1860, when through much experimentation, Gaspare Campari created a distinctive bitter beverage. It’s said that the recipe hasn’t changed since then. In 1867, Campari opened Gaspare’s bar in the city centre, where it still stands today serving Campari cocktails.
Gaspare passed away in 1882 and the business was inherited by his sons David and Guido, who began to sell Campari to other bars and restaurants It was only in 1904, after rapid business growth, that the first production plant was built. From there, the only way was up, and the brand grew in popularity and became truly iconic. Campari celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2010, and is now distributed in over 190 countries.