Wait—You Can Use Campari Instead of Aperol in a Spritz?
We know, we know! This is exciting news, right? Much like its slightly-lighter cousin Aperol, Campari makes a fantastic spritz. Maybe you bought a bottle of Campari for mixing up Negronis—another fabulous cocktail, albeit much more powerful—or maybe you got one as a gift, or maybe you are looking for a reason to go out and grab a bottle of that lovely red elixir. Whatever brought Campari into your life, this Campari Spritz recipe is a sure fire way to enjoy the classic Italian apéritif. Fizzy and light, orange-flecked, bitter and bracing, this cocktail is light on alcohol and big on flavor! Plus, it’s a perfect foil for all your favorite salty happy hour nibbles. What are you waiting for? Bottoms up!
Campari Spritz Ingredients
You’ll only need 4 ingredients to make this easy Campari Spritz recipe, and if you’ve already got a bottle of Campari, you may not even need to run to the liquor store! For the sparkling wine, Prosecco is the classic choice because it—like Campari—is Italian! But any good-quality sparkling wine would be fine here. We suggest something dry, though, because Campari already has quite a bit of sweetness. Here are the four things you’ll need to make a Campari Spritz:
Campari!
Prosecco (or other sparkling wine)
Soda water
Orange slices
What Does a Campari Spritz Taste Like?
A summer day on the Ligurian Sea! A lazy afternoon at a café on the Piazza Navona! Heaven in a glass. Big sunglasses and a super fast, super tiny sports car whipping around hairpin corners in some kind of Italian summer fever dream! Or, did you mean what does it actually taste like? Campari itself is a bit syrupy—it’s as powerful in flavor as it is in color, with a bitter edge that’s matched by quite a bit of sweetness. Its heady bouquet has a lot going on, but is dominated by notes of orange peel, rhubarb and cinnamon.
How to Make The Best Gosh Darn Campari Spritz Ever
Grab your favorite wine glass or tumbler and let’s get mixing! Here’s how to make a truly fabulous Campari Spritz:
Fill the glass with ice. Lots of ice is very important—a spritz should be ultra-refreshing.
Now the pretty part! Pour in the Campari—and doesn’t it just look exactly the way a cocktail should?
Top with sparkling wine! Splits are nice for this, if you’re only making one or two Campari Spritzes.
Sparkling water comes next.
Garnish! Orange peel at least, and some people like to finish things off with a few green olives, too.
Cheers!
When you’re spritzing it up with your nearest & dearest, we’d love to share in your fun! Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!
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