The Spritz Aperol recipe is originated in the nineteenth century when Veneto (a North Eastern region of Italy) was under the dominion of the Habsburg Empire. At the time, the members of the Habsburg Empire frequented the taverns of Veneto, but they were not familiar with all the local wines’ varieties and they were not accustomed to their higher alcohol content.
That’s why they started to ask the local tavern’s host to spay a little bit of water into their Italian wine as they can consume a new ligther type of drink – a blend of wine and water.
And so the name Spritz was born from German “spritzen” which, means “to spray” the water into the wine. At the beginning the Spritz was made only with white still wine and water, but then its recipe evolved.
A century later, when siphons for carbonated water were introduced and became available, barmans started to prepare a sparkling version of this cocktail with still wine and sparkling water.
Spritz Evolution
But with the invention of the light liqueur Aperol presented in 1919 at Padova, an infusion of herbs and roots with a distinctive flavours of oranges and rhubarb the Spritz evolved again. The drink became orange-coloured with the addition of Aperol. And so the Aperol Spritz became one of the most popular Italian recipes and an iconic drink to enjoy before a meal.
Today the classic and popular Spritz Aperol is made with Prosecco, Aperol and soda water. It represents the quintessential aperitivo drink here in Italy.
Method
To prepare this recipe, fill an old-fashioned glass, a tumbler or a wine glass with ice. Pour Prosecco, followed by Aperol in a circular movement and then a splash of Soda water.
Mix it with a bar spoon and garnish with an half slice of orange.
Cheers!
Spritz Cocktail Tips
1 – Add ingredients in order as described in this recipe, because if you’ll add Aperol before Prosecco, the Aperol (more heavy) will settle at the bottom.
2 – This drink is perfect served in a wine glass.
3 – There are many variations of the classic Spritz. In fact you could add different ingredients instead of Aperol and make it with: Campari, Select, Cynar, China Martini. Another variation is Hugo Spritz.
Spritz Aperol
Print RecipeIngredients
- 6 cl (2 oz.) (3 parts) of Prosecco
- 4 cl (1-1/4 oz.) (2 parts) of Aperol
- Splash (1 part) of Soda water
Instructions
Fill an old-fashioned glass, a tumbler or a wine glass with ice, pour Prosecco, followed by Aperol in a circular movement and then a splash of Soda water. Mix it with a bar spoon and garnish with an half slice of orange.
