The recipe for the Americano appears to have originated in 1861 at Gaspare Campari’s bar in Turin, Italy where it was referred to as the "Milano-Torino". It wasn’t until Prohibition was enacted in the United States (1919-1933), that the drink was dubbed the Americano by Italians, who noticed American visitors favoring this classic aperitif. Ironically, Americans could legally sip Campari cocktails at home during Prohibition. Campari was classified by the government as a medicinal product, not an alcoholic beverage.