Aperol Spritz

Sipping an Aperol Spritz overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea is a favorite pastime of tourists and Italians alike. For the rest of us, we can dream of a visit to the Amalfi Coast with the same delicious cocktail.

There’s a lot to like about this in addition to the flavor, and it starts with how easy it is to make. The formula is 3-2-1 simple, meaning three parts prosecco, two parts aperol and one part club soda. Stir briefly, finish with an orange slice and you’ve thrown together a classic Italian cocktail in the blink of an eye.

Don’t allow the simplicity of this fool you, it’s a gorgeous, orange-hued beauty with a perfect balance of sweet, bitter and bubbles. The low alcohol content (11% ABV) means you can drink early and often, but still remain standing for dinnertime.

The roots of Aperol are in Padua, Italy where it was created in 1919 and used to create this classic Italian cocktail. It’s a latecomer to the New World however, just recently emerging as a popular before dinner drink.

What Makes This an Aperitivo and a Spritz?

This fits the classic definition as a pre-dinner drink designed to enhance your appetite. Cocktails that do this best always have a slightly bitter component offset with sweetness and some alcohol of course. The aperol spritz falls in the same category with a better known aperitivo, the Negroni.

A spritzer is a chilled drink, usually iced, made with white wine and carbonation. The aperol spritz has both carbonated white wine and club soda, flavored with aperol, served with ice. That combo makes it a tasty, refreshing cocktail.