If you know anything about me, it’s that I fancy myself Italian. Please don’t share that with my family as they will surely have me committed but in that word ‘fancy’ lies the key. Isn’t that really ‘pretends” but knows the truth? I’ve mentioned my love of Italian food, architecture and more. And now today…a favorite cocktail.
I just love an Aperol Spritz. It is as refreshing as it is beautiful and just so, well, you know…quintessentially Italian! I used Aperol last year when I did a trio of sorbets but I love it the most in this gorgeous cocktail.
A friend of mine is heading to Italy; I hope this post will inspire her to order an Aperol Spritz. A sort of ‘when in Rome’ moment as this cocktail is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands in the Veneto region every day.
Aperol is a brilliant Italian aperitif that includes bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb, cinchona and other spices. Itās similar to Campari, but is much sweeter. The Sprtiz is simply a combination of Aperol, Prosecco and a bit of seltzer served on the rocks in a lowball glass and garnished with a slice of orange.Aperol (and Campari) are considered bitters and until recently Iāve kept my distance from them. I mean..bitter? But Iām slowing coming round and this particular beverage certainly helped. With Aperol, the bitterness is not really bitter in the way my mind was expecting. It was as if the sweet of the fruit and the tang of the peel were melded together; definitely a complimentary partnership.
This apertivoā spread to the rest of the country and with it variants of the original Spritz. Itās only in the last decade that the combination of Aperol and Prosecco have become the most popular one. Itās fresh, sparkling, lightā¦and just the perfect evening cocktail.
Serves 1 cocktail
The quintessential Italian aperitif.
5 minPrep Time
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Aperol
- 3 oz Prosecco
- Club Soda
- Orange Slice for garnish
Instructions
- Place ice cubes in a low ball glass.
- Add Aperol, then Prosecco, and top with soda. Gently mix and garnish with an orange slice. Enjoy!
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