There are certain cocktails that demand work – muddling, shaking, measuring like a laboratory technician. The Aperol Spritz is not among them. This is golden-hour-in-a-glass, a cocktail that actually makes itself while you pretend to be sophisticated on your deck (or, in actuality, leaning against the counter in your sweatpants).
It’s fizzy, bitter-sweet, and looks like you’ve gone to some trouble —
– when in fact you’ve merely poured three things into a glass. Which is the kind of magic we live for here.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• tMinimum effort, maximum reward: Just three pours and a garnish.
• tGolden-hour feel: Bitter orange, prosecco bubbles, sparkling water — sunset in a glass.
- Versatile: Aperol Spritz is perfect as a wind-down, open dinner party, or even a mocktail with a soda substitute.
- Apéro energy: Pair perfectly with salty snacks, cheese and charcuterie plates, or that half-eaten bag of chips you won’t hide.
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Tips, Tricks & Variations
Visualize the Aperol Spritz as a mood board in glass form. No Prosecco? Take whatever spumante you have and use it — cava, crémant, or even that random bottle of horrible cheap bubbly someone had the bad luck to leave behind with you.
Make it less bitter? Add a splash more soda water or squeeze of orange juice. More bite desired? Replace Aperol with Campari. And toddler-in-the-room trick: mix sparkling orange soda with a splash of seltzer for a “Spritz Zero” done up right without the proof.
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Serving & Pairings
- Serve with salty snacks (potato chips, marcona almonds, olives).
- Slide it with a summer salad or grilled skewers for effortless chic.
- Bonus points: serve out of doors on a tray, pretend you have staff.
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FAQ
Is there any way to make an Aperol Spritz without using Prosecco?
Yes — substitute with cava, crémant, or any dry sparkling wine. Cheap bubbly will work too because Aperol gets the job done.
How do I make an Aperol Spritz without alcohol?
Combine a non-alcoholic bitter aperitif (such as Lyre’s Italian Spritz) with seltzer water and a splash of soda. Or cheat with orange soda and seltzer — still vibrant, still fizzy.
What is the best glass to use for an Aperol Spritz?
Traditionally a wine glass, but any glass large enough to fit ice, bubbles, and an orange slice is fine. Glassware should not gatekeep your happy hour.
Aperol Spritz
Ingredients
- 3 oz Prosecco chilled
- 2 oz Aperol
- 1 oz soda water sparkling water or club soda
- Ice enough to fill the glass
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large wine glass with ice (the more, the merrier).
- Pour in the Aperol, then the Prosecco.
- Top with soda water.
- Give it a gentle stir — nothing vigorous, just enough to mingle.
- Garnish with an orange slice. Sip, and pretend you’re on a terrace in Venice.
Notes
• Toddler-friendly spin: Make a “Spritz Zero” with sparkling orange soda and a splash of soda water.
• Variations: Swap Aperol for Campari (bolder, more bitter), or play with flavored sparkling waters.
• Apéro energy: Best served with chips, olives, or anything salty enough to keep you reaching for another sip.