How To Make Aperol Spritz

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If you didn’t get the chance to sip Aperol Spritz cocktails in Italy this Summer, this super quick and easy at-home recipe will still have you living La Dolce Vida! 

The Aperol Spritz is best known for its gorgeous color and refreshing finish. While it’s a bitter drink, it manages to be pleasantly bitter. If you’re familiar with the Campari Cocktail, it’s much less bitter!

Wonderful layered Aperol Spritz! Tart and delicious! Placed on a mirror coaster on a blue wooden background.

When I host Summertime parties, the classic Aperol Spritz, it’s always very popular among my guests. 

When hot Summer days start to give way to cool Autumn evenings, though, I like to put my variation on this spritz recipe by incorporating cranberry juice! It’s an unbelievably delicious summer drink, but putting a twist on the traditional Italian cocktail can make it a great drink for any season! 

🎥 Video

🥘 Ingredients

  • Cubed Ice
  • Prosecco – An Italian sparkling wine from an Italian village of the same name. It is labeled with a “controlled indication of origin” (D.O.C. = Designation of Origin), which means that only white sparkling wine from specific regions in Italy can bear the name Prosecco. These D.O.C.s exist throughout the spirits industry to preserve quality and heritage. 
  • Aperol – With its very approachable bitterness, enhanced by the emphasized orange and rhubarb flavor, and an alcohol by volume of only 11%, it is a beautiful entry-level bitter liqueur for inexperienced palates.
  • Soda Water
  • Orange Wedge or Disc for Garnish

See the recipe card for quantities.

🔪 Instructions

Fill your glassware of choice with cubed ice.

Then, pour 2 oz of Prosecco into each glass. 

Fill the glasses with cubed ice.
Start with the prosecco.

Next, add 1 ½ oz Aperol to each glass and top it off with ¾ oz soda water. 

Add the Aperol to the prosecco.
Top off with soda.

Once your cocktails have been crafted, you can garnish them with an orange slice or orange wedges.

Add a orange wedge as a garnish.
Wonderful layered Aperol Spritz! Tart and delicious! Placed on a mirror coaster on a blue wooden background.

🎉 Batch Version for Parties

Hosting a gathering? Preparing Aperol Spritz in a large batch ensures your guests can enjoy this refreshing cocktail without the need for constant preparation.

Here’s how to make a pitcher that serves 8:​

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (16 oz) Prosecco​
  • 1½ cups (12 oz) Aperol​
  • ½ cup (4 oz) Soda water​
  • Ice cubes​
  • Orange slices for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a large pitcher, combine 2 cups of Prosecco and 1½ cups of Aperol.
  2. Gently stir to mix.​
  3. When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice.​
  4. Pour the mixture into each glass, filling about three-quarters full.​
  5. Top each glass with a splash of soda water.
  6. Garnish with an orange slice.​

Note: For optimal freshness and effervescence, add the soda water just before serving.​

🥂 Substitutions

Replace the Aperol with Campari, Cynar, or Select to get other types of Italian-style spritz.

🍾 Variations

To get a “Spritzer,” remove the bitter element altogether and use three parts white wine to 1 part soda (usually served without garnish). This is traditionally more common in Austria, Germany, and the UK.

🍽 Equipment

  • Measuring Tools / Jigger
  • Serving Glasses – wine glass, high ball or rocks glass
Wonderful layered Aperol Spritz! Tart and delicious! Placed on a mirror coaster on a blue wooden background.

💭 Top tips

When preparing your cocktails at home, it’s essential that you hold your highball glasses from the bottom and avoid touching the rim. If you’re preparing your cocktails in the traditional wine glass, be sure By doing this, you help keep your chilled glass nice and cool – which makes the cocktail taste that much better!

And are you already wondering, “How do I chill a cocktail glass properly?” The most efficient way to get a perfectly chilled glass is to put them in the freezer beforehand. I usually like to give it at least a half hour, but if you’re like me and plan to have friends and family over for backyard grilling and dinner parties this summer, you could also throw your glasses in the night before.

If you don’t have that kind of freezer space or that kind of time between refills for your guests, another method you could adopt is filling each cocktail glass with ice cubes while you prepare your garnish. Once you’re done, you can dump out the ice and start pouring the cocktail.

In an attempt to protect our environment, one final tip is that I highly encourage you to avoid using disposable straws whenever possible. If you can, use metal or paper straws or forgo them altogether.

🙋🏻 FAQ

What kind of alcohol is Aperol?

Aperol is an orange-tasting bitter liqueur from Italy. With its very approachable bitterness, accented by orange and rhubarb flavors, and its alcohol by volume of only 11%, this is a wonderful entry-level amaro for inexperienced palates.

Is there alcohol in Aperol?

Yes, Aperol is an orange-tasting bitter liqueur from Italy. 

Is an Aperol Spritz a ladies drink?

In Europe, everyone drinks Aperol Spritz! I definitely won’t call it a feminine drink, and for any men in your life who might be concerned about this perceived social standard, let them have a sip to see just what they’re missing out on!

Why is Aperol Spritz so bitter?

Despite what social media would have you believe, Aperol Spritz isn’t for everyone. If you love them and have fully embraced them as your go-to summer cocktail, you likely find Aperol to be both bitter and sweet. If you’re sensitive to bitter tastes though, the Aperol compounded with the Orange Liqueur and fresh orange slice might be a little too much for you. 

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How to make an Aperol Spritz?

The order is the decisive factor when making Aperol Spritz! Start with Prosecco, followed by Aperol and finish with soda water. This is how you get the perfect balance of flavors!
Print Recipe
Wonderful layered Aperol Spritz! Tart and delicious! Placed on a mirror coaster on a blue wooden background.
Prep Time:5 minutes
Total Time:5 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients

  • Cubed ice to fill up the glasses
  • 4 oz Prosecco
  • 3 oz Aperol
  • 1 ½ oz Soda water
  • Orange wedge or disc for garnish

Instructions

  • Fill the serving glasses to the brim with Cubed ice.
    Cubed ice
    Fill the glasses with cubed ice.
  • Start with 4 oz Prosecco; add 2 oz per glass.
    4 oz Prosecco
    Start with the prosecco.
  • Next, 3 oz Aperol Add 1 ½ oz Aperol per glass.
    3 oz Aperol
    Add the Aperol to the prosecco.
  • Last, 1 ½ oz Soda water. Add ¾ oz soda water per glass.
    1 ½ oz Soda water
    Top off with soda.
  • Garnish your drink with an Orange wedge or disc.
    Orange wedge
    Add a orange wedge as a garnish.

Notes

For a party-sized batch serving 8, combine 2 cups Prosecco and 1½ cups Aperol in a pitcher. Stir gently. When serving, pour into ice-filled glasses, top with a splash of soda water, and garnish with an orange slice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 0.04g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 50mg | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Servings: 2 Servings
Calories: 141kcal
Author: Nora

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⛑️ Food Safety

  • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
  • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands after touching raw meat
  • Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

For further information, check Safe Food Handling – FDA.

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8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    It is the season of entertaining. This looks like a fun and tasty drink. I love playing bartender when friends come over.

5 from 35 votes (31 ratings without comment)

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