Aperol Spritz sounds like it could be German in origin, but in fact it’s Italian ! From northern Italy, this Aperol, sparkling wine, and sparkling water cocktail is the perfect summer cocktail to enjoy in the later afternoon.
This post may contain affiliate links. This post is meant for those of legal drinking age.
What is Aperol Spritz ?
Aperol Spritz is an Italian cocktail with quite a bit of history. It absolutely requires Aperol, an Italian orange bitter aperitif that traces its roots back the early 20th century in Italy. It’s a spritz since it has a mix of sparking wine (or prosecco) and sparkling water, so it’s an Italian version of a highball in a way.
That being said Italy, Austria, and Switzerland do share borders and Aperol Spritz is quite common in all three countries. Personally I’ve first had Aperol Spritz when my Germany-based aunt made a bunch of these when she came visiting so I’m going to assume it’s quite popular in Germany as well.
It’s far more common in Europe than any other continent, but you might just find it at your favorite bar since it’s started to rise in popularity worldwide.
Aperol Spritz Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Aperol
- 1.5 oz club soda
- 1.5 oz sparling wine
Instructions
- Build in ice-filled wine glass.
Notes
- Remember champagne foams a lot, leave it some room to fizzle then continue pouring.
When is this drink best ?
Aperol Spritz works great as a summer cocktail, not only because of the orange notes in Aperol but also because of the beautiful orange hue it comes with. I also think this is a bit of a casual cocktail, so I could see this served anywhere from restaurants to weddings to office parties to poolside bars to a backyard BBQ.
My thoughts on Aperol Spritz
I love Aperol Spritz, mostly because I love Aperol and find it not only beautiful but also very well flavored. This spritz is something I’ve had at family get-togethers, on the balcony with my husband, by the pool in my city, at our favorite restaurant, on NYE, anytime imaginable.
It’s a bit sweet – entirely dictated by Aperol and the type of sparkling wine you get – but not overly sweet since the sparkling water tones is down. It’s also orange-y in flavor and has a nice mildly bitter finish that pairs very well with the dryness in the sparkling wine (if using dry or semi-dry).
Overall I have to say it’s a great cocktail that you can easily have more than one of. It’s fairly low in alcohol – Aperol is 11% and sparkling wine is about 7%.
If you like Aperol Spritz, you might also like…
Hugo Spritz – an Austrian spritz with sparkling wine, elderflower, and sparkling water.
Old Cuban – a rum and sparkling wine spritz
Mimosa – OJ and sparkling wine, perfect for brunch
Poinsettia – a Mimosa with cranberry
Negroni Sbagliato – a Negroni with sparkling wine
Americano – a Negroni highball with sparkling water
Aperol Sour – a sour, with an Aperol base
Cointreau Fizz – Cointreau, lime juice, club soda
Garibaldi Spritz – a mix of Campari, orange juice, and sparkling wine
Notes, substitutes, and tips
You could add a few orange slices to the glass, along with the ice to make for an even more orange cocktail. There’s also the added bonus of fresh citrus flavor in the drink.
You can adjust the ratio a little of you like. Originally it’s 1:1:1 Aperol, sparkling wine, and sparkling water but you can easily do 2:1:1 instead.
Dry or semi-dry sparkling wine are the best options for this cocktail. Sweet or semi-sweet will turn cloying.
