Garibaldi

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What Is a Garibaldi Cocktail?

The Garibaldi is a simple Italian highball made with just two ingredients: Campari and fresh orange juice, served over ice with an orange wedge. It's bright, bittersweet and refreshing, with a beautiful sunset-orange color. Thanks to its low alcohol content and breakfast-friendly ingredients, it's one of the best brunch cocktails you can make.

In Italy the drink is often called a "Campari Orange" or "Campari Orange Juice," and it's a staple of bars across the country. In recent years it has become famous worldwide thanks to a clever technique that makes the orange juice light and fluffy.

A Brief History of the Garibaldi

A Drink Named for a Hero

The Garibaldi is named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, the general and patriot who played a central role in the unification of Italy in the 1860s. The drink's two ingredients are said to symbolize that unification: Campari comes from Milan in the north, while oranges are grown in Sicily and the south, the regions Garibaldi famously helped bring into the new Italian nation. Garibaldi and his followers were also known as the "Redshirts," a nice echo of Campari's famous red color.

From Simple Highball to Modern Classic

Campari and orange juice has been a simple, popular combination in Italy for generations. The drink got a modern makeover at Dante, a celebrated bar in New York City, where bartender Naren Young popularized the "fluffy" Garibaldi using orange juice whipped in a high-speed juicer. The result was so popular that it became one of the bar's signature drinks and inspired bartenders around the world to copy the technique. You can read more on the Garibaldi's Wikipedia page.

Flavor Profile and What to Expect

The Garibaldi is bittersweet, juicy and refreshing. Campari brings its bold flavors of bitter orange peel, rhubarb, cherry and herbs, and fresh orange juice softens that bitterness with natural sweetness and bright citrus. The two orange flavors, bitter and sweet, complement each other perfectly. When the juice is made "fluffy," the drink has a light, creamy, almost mousse-like texture that makes it feel indulgent even though it's simple and low in alcohol.

The Secret: Fluffy Orange Juice

The key to a great Garibaldi is the orange juice. Bottled juice works, but fresh juice is much better, and fluffy juice is best of all. To make fluffy juice, use a centrifugal juicer, which spins at high speed and whips air into the juice as it extracts it. The result is a pale, frothy juice that gives the drink its signature texture. If you don't have a centrifugal juicer, you can get a similar effect by blending fresh orange juice in a blender for 15 to 20 seconds, or by shaking it hard in a cocktail shaker with a couple of ice cubes. Use the juice right away, because the foam settles within a few minutes.

Choosing Your Ingredients

Oranges

Choose sweet, juicy oranges like Valencia or navel. Blood oranges, when in season, make a stunning crimson Garibaldi with a berry-like flavor.

Campari

Campari is classic. If you prefer a lighter, sweeter drink, Aperol works too, though the result is much less bitter and closer to a brunch spritz.

Popular Variations and Related Drinks

Italian Aperitivo Cousins

If you enjoy the Garibaldi, try other bittersweet Italian classics like the Negroni, the Boulevardier and the Aperol Spritz.

Brunch Favorites

The Garibaldi belongs on the brunch table with other orange juice classics like the Mimosa and the Screwdriver. For something bitter and bubbly, the Hugo is another light, easy option.

Sparkling Garibaldi

Top the drink with a splash of prosecco or soda water for a lighter, bubbly version.

How to Serve a Garibaldi

Serve the Garibaldi in a highball or wine glass filled with ice. Pour the Campari first, then top with the fluffy orange juice so the colors blend into a gradient. Give it a gentle stir and garnish with an orange wedge or half-wheel. Serve it right away while the juice is still frothy.

Food Pairings and Occasions

The Garibaldi is a perfect brunch drink. It pairs well with eggs Benedict, frittatas, smoked salmon, pastries and fresh fruit. It's also an excellent aperitivo with salty snacks like olives, potato chips, focaccia and salami. Thanks to its low alcohol content, it's ideal for daytime gatherings, summer afternoons, garden parties and anyone who wants a lighter drink. Browse our summer cocktails for more ideas.

Why People Love the Garibaldi

The Garibaldi shows how great a two-ingredient drink can be. It's easy to make, beautiful to look at and full of flavor, and the fluffy-juice technique turns a simple highball into something memorable. It's also a fun introduction to Campari for people who find the Negroni too strong. For more detail, see the Garibaldi recipe on Difford's Guide.