Aperol Spritz recipe (classic + 2 easy variations) (2024)

What is Aperol

Aperolis an Italian aperitif with scents of bitter orange and rhubarb as the dominant flavors and other herb infusions that complete its character.

It has a distinctive bright orange color, and the taste starts sweet but ends with a pleasant bitterness.

What is Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritzis an Italian drink and according to foundinitaly.com itoriginated in the Veneto region of northern Italy in 1919.

Aperol vs Campari

The two drinks have some similarities (they’re both infusions of fruit and herbs in a bitter liqueur) but they're not the same.

Campari has a heavier, rich wood-rhubarb-floral flavor profile with 22% ABV approximately (this depends on the country in which it is being sold). Campari is used for thissimple Negroni co*cktail recipe.

Aperol is lighter with mandarin and orange peel notes, higher sugar content and approximately half the alcohol (11% ABV). It also has less bitter flavor than Campari.

For the 3-2-1 recipe the ratios are 3 parts Prosecco (90ml), 2 parts Aperol (60ml) and 1 part soda water (30ml).

However, many times I adjust the recipe to my personal taste and use just a splash of club soda or I omit it completely, because I find that the soda water weakens the flavor of this refreshing drink.

Instructions

Making this Italian apéritif only requires having the ingredients and the serving glass. No shaking and no using special co*cktail equipment. The steps are:

1. Twist the orange peel inside the glass in order to release its essential oils. You can also gently rub it on the inside of the glass.

2. Pour the Prosecco, the Aperol, and the soda water in the glass and stir very gently.

3. Fill the glass with ice cubes and garnish with an orange slice.

Useful Tips

A secret for extra flavor:Twist a piece of orange peel inside the glass and gently rub it on the interior of the glass. The essential oils from the peel will give extra flavor to your drink.

Have all the ingredients chilled. This will help the drink stay cold for longer time and the ice won't melt quickly, diluting your co*cktail.

Garnish with a slice of orange or a piece of orange peel. It makes a difference!

Don't use an already opened bottle of Prosecco. If the Prosecco has been opened for more than a day, it will probably be less fizzy and less flavorful.

A secret for more bubbles:Pour the liquids first, add the ice at the end. Most bartenders pour the drink over ice because that way it runs across the surface of the ice and cools faster (so your drink is colder).

However, this does two things. Firstly it creates a thermal shock to the sparkling drink and secondly it creates more surface for the carbon dioxide to accumulate and form bubbles.

Both these things result in less bubbles in the finished drink. So add the ice at the end!

For the classic recipe 3-2-1

• ▢ 6 tablespoons (90 g) Prosecco (3 parts)
• ▢ 4 tablespoons (60 g) Aperol (2 parts)
• ▢ 2 tablespoons (30 g) soda water (1 part)
• ▢ ice cubes
• ▢ Orange slice and orange peel

• Twist the orange peel inside the glass in order to release its essential oils. You can also gently rub it on the inside of the glass.

• Pour the Prosecco, the Aperol, and the soda water in the glass and stir very gently.

• Fill the glass with ice cubes and garnish with an orange slice.

Instructions remain the same for both variations.

Aperol Spritz without Prosecco:

• 90ml sparkling white wine
• 60ml Aperol
• Ice cubes
• An orange slice.

The sparkling white wine can be dry such as french Champagne or Spanish Cava, or sweet like the Italian Moscato D' Asti (this is my favorite choice!).

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Modern Aperol Spritz recipe:

• 90ml Prosecco
• 90ml Aperol
• A splash of soda water
• Ice cubes
• An orange slice

Tips:

For an extra chilled drink, store the wine, the Aperol, and the soda in the fridge a few hours before serving. This way the ice cubes will not melt fast and dilute your drink.

Add the ice cubes at the beginning or at the end? It actually doesn’t make a dramatic difference, but if you want to preserve most of the bubbles it is best to add the ice cubes at the end.