A Perfect Aperol Spritz
Aperol is an Italian bitter that’s been around since 1919, but the American passion for the Aperol Spritz (and all spritz cocktails) is a relatively new phenomenon. Making an Aperol Spritz or two is the ideal way to conjure the glorious Italian tradition of aperitivo—light snacks and a low-ABV, slightly bitter cocktail to whet the appetite before a proper meal—wherever you may be! Fizzy, light and refreshing, this classic Aperol Spritz recipe is everything we want a summer drink to be. If you want a less-sweet spritz, try our Campari Spritz, and if you really want a bitter bite in your cocktail, the Paloma is for you.
Aperol Spritz Ingredients
Aperol. An Italian bitter (that’s really not very bitter), Aperol is a little sweet, with hints of orange and vanilla.
Prosecco. The best prosecco for making an Aperol Spritz is a nice dry prosecco. Aperol is pretty sweet, so it’s nice to have a sparkling wine that doesn’t double down on the sweetness. You can use any dry, affordable sparkling wine that you like, but prosecco is the classic choice because it is Italian.
Soda water. We like to use seltzer with big, vigorous bubbles! The fizzier the better.
How to Make an Aperol Spritz
Select the perfect Spritz cocktail glass! White wine glasses (affiliate link) are terrific for serving an Aperol Spritz, but if your wine glasses are super fancy or fragile, you might also consider using something sturdier, like a highball (affiliate link).
Fill that glass with lots and lots of ice!
Use a cocktail jigger to measure the Aperol and pour it over the ice.
Pour in the prosecco. If you have Prosecco leftover, this champagne stopper (affiliate link) is really handy for keeping the sparkle in your sparkling wine. A Spritz life MUST.
Complete your Aperol Spritz by topping it off with sparkling water.
Let’s garnish! Aperol Spritz cocktails are Italian, so of course they’re as much about style as they are about taste, so you’ve got to go big with your spritz garnish! We like to garnish with a big orange slice, but some people like to garnish a spritz with a briny olive and an orange slice, and that sweet-salty combo can be awesome if you want to get a little fancy.
Still thirsty? Refreshing summer cocktails are kind of our thing. If you’re having a cocktail party on a hot day, offer your spritz-averse guests Mojitos or Ranch Water.
How Strong Is An Aperol Spritz? It’s Up To You
A single serving of our Aperol Spritz recipe is about as strong as a glass of wine. While an Aperol Spritz is definitely an alcoholic drink, Spritz cocktails tend to be much lower in alcohol than most cocktails. Aperol has an 11% ABV (alcohol by volume), which is about the same ABV as wine. Prosecco is the other alcoholic element in an Aperol Spritz, and also hovers at around 11% ABV. The other ingredients — ice and soda water — offer hydration that helps keep you feeling good as you sip your spritz. You can always add more soda water to make the drink lighter in alcohol, or use little less Aperol if you want the drink to have less bittersweetness.
More Of Our Best Summer Cocktail Recipes
Grab some friends, find some water, and soak up that summer sun with any of these delicious cocktails. Cheers!
Show Us Your Best Aperol Spritz!
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