Siesta Cocktail

The Siesta cocktail is a luxurious modern drink that pairs tequila, Campari, grapefruit, and lime. One sip and you’ll be hooked!

Hey cocktail connoisseurs: there’s a new drink in town. Meet the Siesta cocktail! This unexpected combination of tequila, Campari, and fresh citrus juice is deliciously intriguing.

Each sip is balanced and refreshing, with a sweet tart body and a hint of bitterness on the finish. One sip in, and I was hooked! Here’s a bit more about this modern classic and why it’s one of the best ways to use up your bottle of Campari.

What are the origins of this cocktail?

The Siesta cocktail is a modern cocktail made with tequila, Campari, grapefruit juice, and lime juice. It was invented in 2006 by New York mixologist Katie Stipe. Some may call it a play on the Hemingway Daiquiri, with the grapefruit juice and lime. But the similarities end there!

Instead of rum, it uses tequila, a sweet and earthy spirit. Campari is a bitter Italian aperitif traditionally used only in Italian cocktails.

But the contrasts work. This unique mixture of Mexican and Italian liqueurs layers the flavors in a genius way that lets you enjoy the magic of both. (It reminds me of another favorite modern cocktail, the Paper Plane, which contrasts sweet bourbon with bitter Italian Aperol.)

More about Campari

Got a bottle of tequila around, but not sure about the Campari? It’s absolutely worth grabbing a bottle for this recipe. Here’s the downlow on this popular Italian spirit:

• Campari is a bitter Italian aperitif — a bitter liqueur meant for sipping before a meal. It’s part of the family of Italian amari (amaro meaning “bitter”), known for their herbal, complex flavors. It was invented in 1860 by Gaspare Campari in Novara, Italy.
• Campari is bright red in color. In fact, its red color originally came from a dye made of crushed insects! The modern recipe now uses artificial red coloring. 
• What does Campari taste like? It tastes bitter, fruity, and spicy all at once. It’s infused with different herbs and fruits — part of a secret recipe. It has a relatively strong flavor, but mixed into the Siesta cocktail, it’s perfectly balanced.

How to make this tasty cocktail: shake and strain!

The Siesta cocktail is beyond easy to make. Once you’ve compiled the ingredients, you’ll need a cocktail shaker. Here’s what to do:

• Shake: Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and then shake until very cold. (Don’t have a cocktail shaker? Use a mason jar with a cover instead.)
• Strain: Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. (Don’t have a cocktail strainer? Use a fine mesh strainer instead.)
• Garnish: If you’d like, add a citrus wedge for the garnish. That’s it!

More modern classic cocktails

If you love the idea behind this Siesta cocktail, I have plenty more modern drinks similar to this one that you need to try! You’ll love:

• The Paper Plane Cocktail, which pairs bourbon, Aperol, amaro, and lemon
• The Jungle Bird, a tasty mix of dark rum, pineapple juice, Campari, and lime
• The Fernet Sour, a combination of Fernet-Branca, Chartreuse, and lime

When to serve this drink

The Siesta cocktail is a sophisticated and perfectly balanced drink — great for impressing friends. Serve it as a:

• Happy hour drink
• Dinner party drink
• Late night drinks drink
• Guys or girls night drink
• Cocktail hour drink

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