The Aperol Spritz is an absolute must-have recipe for any bartender. It’s refreshing, bitter & bubbly with just a hint of sweet. It makes for a fun and festive drink best enjoyed outdoors! If you’re not familiar with Aperol, this is a great way to introduce people to the iconic Italian apéritif.
Background
In a nutshell, Aperol is a bitter Italian liqueur traditionally consumed immediately before a meal. It’s essentially an appetizer in drink form! The herbs & roots used to give Aperol its distinct bitter flavor are beneficial in stimulating your appetite and prepping your palate for the dishes that are about to follow.
While our recipe is pretty close to the original, we like to tweak ours just a teeny-tiny bit. In lieu of the traditional club soda, we prefer using Topo Chico. This is partly because we always have it on hand, but also because we like the extra bubbles. If you’re not a Prosecco fan or are ultra sensitive to sweetness, you can swap it out for a drier and more tart sparkling wine option. We love Gruet and Café de Paris which we pick up regularly from our local Central Market or at my shop.
If you’re looking for traditional Prosecco options, opt for brands like Adami, Valdo Marca Oro, Mionetto, LaMarca or even the Kirkland Prosecco at $6.99/btl. We are making a spritz after all! This makes the perfect drink to serve at your next Italian feast. Need some food recipes to make it all happen? Try making some Spaghetti Bolognese w/ Lauren’s Ultimate Caesar Salad and Fresh Baked Focaccia!
Recipe
Aperol Spritz Cocktail
The Aperol Spritz is a must-have cocktail recipe for any bartender. It's refreshing, bitter and bubbly. The Prosecco and a kiss of freshly squeezed orange juice really round out the flavor profile of this drink. Best served outside!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 oz Aperol Aperitivo
- 3/4 oz Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water (or club soda)
- 2 oz Prosecco or preferred Sparkling Wine
- 1 Mandarin Orange, cut into eighths
Directions
- Step 1 In a large wine glass (we prefer stemless), add a handful of ice.
- Step 2 Build the cocktail directly into the glass by adding the Topo Chico first, the Aperol second, and topping with Prosecco.
- Step 3 Next, squeeze three of the orange segments directly into the glass and drop them in the glass.
- Step 4 Using a barspoon, give the cocktail a gentle stir to lightly incorporate all the ingredients.
- Step 5 Enjoy!
About the Author
Cameron is a co-founder of Whisk & Shake. His journey in the food & beverage world began as a delivery driver for a small mom & pop Italian restaurant in Dallas at the age of 18. He quickly became intrigued by the inner workings of restaurant life and enrolled in the culinary program at Johnson & Wales University. Since graduating with degrees in Foodservice Management and Culinary Arts, he’s held management position in both front and back of house ranging from Executive Chef to General Manager. In 2019, he successfully passed the Certified Sommelier exam administered by the Court of Master Sommeliers. He has been a professional wine buyer for over 10 years and picked up his craft cocktail knowledge while tending bar at one of the premier cocktail bars in DFW. In his free time, Cameron loves to golf, fish, paddle, hike and run.
