Americano Shandy

This spritzy cocktail comes from the idiosyncratic mind of Kate Hawkings, who went from a waitress as a student in London to become Chair of the Guild of Food Writers having written for the Guardian, Independent, Telegraph, Sunday Times, and Elle Deco and published the vermouth-tastic book: Aperitif: A Spirited Guide to the Drinks, History and Culture of the Aperitif. This drink debuted at Bristol’s Box-E Restaurant run by the ex- head chef of the awarding winning Empress in East London.

 ‘Bear with me on this one: Campari and sweet vermouth make a happy marriage…Here, they rub along surprisingly well with a hoppy lager to make a shandy with a certain Italian elan. It’s a little bit country and a little bit rock’n’roll.’. – Kate Hawkins on Americano Shandy in the Guardian

Our version goes lighter on Campari so you can enjoy the breadth and depth of our No 2 Camille’s Red, while maintaining the bitter after-glow. Note one bottle lager is enough for two shandies.

 

Ingredients

Method

  • Pre-chilled small beer glasses in freezer or fill a beer glass with ice and let them chill for 5-10 mins before discarding.

  • Fill chilled glass with new ice and add the No 2 Camille’s Red and Campari before topping with lager.

  • Garnish with a slice of lemon.

*Southwark based, Yorkshire brewed Toast Lager is made using old bread to make a light lager with a delicate hoppy character, which is fruity & crisp with aromas of malt and fresh bread. Closer to home, London brewed alternatives include Beavertown Brewery’s Bones, a light, crisp, smashable, sessionable lager favoured with extra pale malt & Akoya & Saphir hops or Weird Beer’s Kill Pils with its aromas of orange peel, grass and lemon.

Notes From The Founders

Guy’s Americano Shandy Song - Les Feuilles Mortes - Hank Wangford

“My first exposure to country music was through Hank Wankford. Like me, there wasn’t any country music in the North London house where he grew up, although unlike me, folk singer Ewan MacColl was a visitor, railing against the in-authenticity of skiffle at the time, according to Hank , with the vigour of a Stalinist purge. ‘As soon as I’d pick up my guitar, he’d tell me off.’ He’d say, ‘You’re from London, so you must sing songs true to your roots.’

So I was surprised to hear his cover of Kurt Weill’s Autumn Leaves in French. It’s a bit like this cocktail – it shouldn’t work but it does”