How The Campari Ting Cocktail Took Jamaica By Storm

The Campari Ting cocktail is thought by many to be one of the best things to eat or drink in Jamaica. Its recipe is rather simple. All you need is a Tom Collins glass filled with ice, one part Campari, and two parts Ting. For best results, add the ingredients in that order, then stir them up to evenly distribute the crisp, sour, and sweet flavors of this bubbly beverage. It's a thirst-quenching, Jamaican darling — one that's only recently become popular.

Prior to the 2010s, as Punch reports, Jamaican mixologists did sometimes stock their bars with Campari, but it was oftentimes overlooked in favor of alternatives such as rum. Then, in 2012, the corporate owner of Campari took over a famous Jamaican rum business. In order to promote Campari in Jamaica, that company drew inspiration from Wray & Ting — a popular drink featuring unaged, overproof Wray & Nephew rum — and replaced the Wray with its Campari, then advertised this new concoction at local bars.

Pop culture (primarily music) embraced the beverage, as well, with the red liqueur even showing up in music videos.  This campaign performed so well that — for a couple of years — Campari supply couldn't keep up with Jamaican demand. Bright red text on the outside of bars now signifies the presence of Campari all across the country. Campari Ting has even been iterated on, too, adding the unaged, high-proof rum back in to create a Rumpari.

Although it's popular in Jamaica nowadays, Campari originally hails from northwest Italy circa 1860. It's a clear, vividly red spirit with about 25% strength and a distinctively complex, bitter flavor. The exact recipe is unknown, but it's believed to feature grapefruit, lemon leaves, spices, and more. It's also got floral hints of herbs, orange, and wood,  which you'll smell even before you taste.

Campari is traditionally employed as an aperitif, meant to be imbibed before you eat in order to work up your appetite — one often served at fancy restaurants. It can be an acquired taste, but this award-winning liqueur is also commonly included in all kinds of culinary creations. The simplest way to heighten Campari is by mixing in citrus juice. Soft drinks (with a slice of citrus) are also an option — as in the case of the Campari Ting.

Considering the liqueur's Italian heritage, it should come as no real surprise that a Negroni with gin and sweet vermouth is a safe bet, as well. A Negroni sbagliato with prosecco works, too. Campari and food don't frequently go hand in hand, but some folks do pair it with fruit and put it in jellies, salad dressing, and even sorbets.

Rather self-evidently, Ting Sparkling Grapefruit Flavored Beverage — per the official name — is exactly what that implies: A carbonated drink made with concentrate. It's cloudy in appearance, smelling of zesty citrus, tasting acidic and sweet, and leaving a fruity aftertaste on the tongue. According to the company that produces it, Ting is "the mixer that goes with every-ting." In addition to bubbliness and sweetness, Jamaican identity is also a key part of its image, just like its usefulness in cocktails such as the Montego Bay, Paloma, Ting 'n' Sting, Ving, and of course the Wray & Ting, and Campari Ting.

The soft drink dates back to 1976 Jamaica and was created by the makers of Jamaica's Red Stripe Beer. However, this Caribbean soda has since garnered popularity internationally. This includes, for example, the United Kingdom (Jamaica was a British colony for more than three centuries until its independence in 1962). Such ubiquity is partially due to the fact that huge companies like Guinness and PepsiCo have come to hold a vested interest in the brand's success due to various corporate acquisitions. Owing to the owners of Campari, it's also an instrumental half of this newly famous Jamaican duo that makes up the Campari Ting cocktail.