Aperol Spritz

This post contains affiliate links. See our disclosure policy here.

Get Our Recipes Sent To Your Inbox
Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

Cocktail History

The Aperol Spritz is a low-proof cocktail that was created in Padua, Italy in the early 1920s after brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri first introduced Aperol at the Padua International Fair in 1919. It is said that this light and refreshing mix of the slightly bitter Italian liqueur, Prosecco, soda water, and citrus was made to highlight the Aperol’s flavor, and since then, the drink has become a favorite apéritif of mid-afternoon imbibers in Italy for its refreshing quality, bittersweet taste, and low alcohol content.

It wasn’t until the 2000s that the Aperol Spritz made its way onto bar menus in other countries. Gruppo Campari, owners of the larger Italian liqueur Campari, purchased the Aperol brand in 2003 and have since heavily marketed the liqueur as the main ingredient in a spritz cocktail, which led to its worldwide popularity.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Sparkling Wine: This is the base spirit. This recipe specifically calls for Prosecco, a sparkling white wine from Italy, so we used La Marca Prosecco for its crisp, refreshing taste and floral notes. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the wine.

Aperol: This is a bitter Italian apéritif. It adds notes of gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Italian Spritz in place of the liqueur.

Soda Water: This is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. It stretches the drink and adds fizz. We used Topo Chico because it’s light, essentially flavorless, and refreshing.

Orange Slice: This is the garnish. It adds fresh citrus aroma and flavor when dropped into the drink.

Tasting Notes

The Aperol Spritz features dominant aromas of orange with a hint of Aperol’s herbal and bitter scent, and it has a taste that’s sweet initially from both the liqueur’s sugariness and the Prosecco but then follows both up with the slightly bitter backbone of the orangey amaro that lingers on the palate.

Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: In our opinion, the bubbles paired with the liqueur’s slight bitterness make this spritz a likely pleasure to any palate. This was the second one Kendall had ever tried, and while she thought it was noticeably less bitter than her first one years ago, she still didn’t quite find it worth craving. Alex, on the other hand, has wishful visions of sipping one of these while dining al fresco in a quiet Mediterranean village almost daily.

Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.

Take Our Quiz →

Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.

Take Our Quiz →

Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I’ve always been a fan of the Aperol Spritz as a drink but even more so what it represents: mid-day low-proof drinking to help you ride a slight buzz into the night without taking you overboard and putting you to sleep by 7:00pm. The Italians take everything in moderation, and that’s something I aspire to do too because I believe any non-workday spent relaxing on a patio or porch deserves just a slight buzz.”

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“Full disclosure, we made and photographed this classic for the first time last spring, but I ended up not loving the photo and kept moving it back on our calendar for that reason. I finally stuck it back into our rotation this spring so we could take another photo and so I could taste it again. Last year, I remember not liking this at all, but it’s nowhere close to as bitter as I remember it being. I still wouldn’t call it a favorite, but it’s a nice refreshing drink! I can see why it’s beloved for brunches and garden parties.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.

Sale
The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks with 150 Recipes
The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks with 150 Recipes
Hardcover Book; Editors of PUNCH (Author); English (Publication Language); 352 Pages – 09/05/2017 (Publication Date) – Ten Speed Press (Publisher)
$17.47

AuthorThe Essential Cocktail Book

Yields1 ServingPrep Time5 mins

Ingredients
 3 oz Prosecco
 2 oz Aperol
 1 oz Soda Water
 1 Orange Slice

Method
1

Add sparkling wine, Aperol, soda water, and ice to a highball glass.

2

Stir for 5-10 seconds.

3

Garnish with orange slice.

Ingredients

Ingredients
 3 oz Prosecco
 2 oz Aperol
 1 oz Soda Water
 1 Orange Slice

Directions

Method
1

Add sparkling wine, Aperol, soda water, and ice to a highball glass.

2

Stir for 5-10 seconds.

3

Garnish with orange slice.

Aperol Spritz

Make It a Mocktail: Use Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the wine and Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Italian Spritz in place of the liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.

Tools & Glassware We Recommend

Riedel Extreme Cabernet Wine Glasses, Set of 4, Clear, 28.22 ounces
Riedel Extreme Cabernet Wine Glasses, Set of 4, Clear, 28.22 ounces
All RIEDEL glasses are dishwasher safe; Glass capacity is 28.22 ounces; glass size is 4.09Lx4.09Wx9.72H (Inches)
$72.69
Riedel Extreme Pinot Noir Glass, Set of 2, Clear
Riedel Extreme Pinot Noir Glass, Set of 2, Clear
The Extreme glasses derive their name from their extreme contours; All RIEDEL glasses are dishwasher safe
$49.00
Riedel 1234/0 Winewings Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Glass, Single Stem, Clear,35.34 ounces
Riedel 1234/0 Winewings Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Glass, Single Stem, Clear,35.34 ounces
Machine made and dishwasher safe; Glass capacity 35.34 ounces; Glass size: 4.61Lx4.61Wx9.84H (Inches)
Riedel Vinum New World Pinot Noir Glass, Set of 2
Riedel Vinum New World Pinot Noir Glass, Set of 2
This glass should be part of the basic equipment of every sophisticated wine lover; All Riedel glasses are dishwasher safe
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
Sturdy, stainless steel blade; Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle ensures a safe grip; Hand wash with warm, soapy water and promptly dry
$9.95

More Sparkling Wine Cocktails

If you like this sparkling wine cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:

Mountaintop Meadow Cocktail Recipe

Mountaintop Meadow: A vodka cocktail made with elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, lavender bitters, dry sparkling wine, a pineapple wedge, and mint

Nucleus Mimosa Cocktail Recipe

Nucleus Mimosa: A sparkling wine cocktail made with orange juice, cranberry juice, and a lime slice

Pomegranate Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe

Pomegranate Gin Fizz: A gin cocktail made with grenadine, sparkling wine, pomegranate seeds, and a Demerara sugar cube

Minute To Midnight Cocktail Recipe

Minute To Midnight: A brandy cocktail made with pear liqueur, Angostura aromatic bitters, dry sparkling wine, and a lemon twist

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2023-03-20.

Leave a comment