Aperol Spritz
Origin
Veneto, Italy · 1950
Aperol was created by the Barbieri brothers in Padua in 1919; the modern 3-2-1 Spritz formula (Prosecco, Aperol, soda) emerged in the Veneto in the 1950s. Roots trace to 19th-century Habsburg-era Veneto, when soldiers asked locals to 'spritzen' water into wine.
Variations
- Campari SpritzSwap Aperol for Campari — more bitter
- Hugo SpritzUse elderflower liqueur instead of Aperol, add mint
Italy's favorite aperitivo — bitter, bubbly, and effortlessly cool.
Ingredients
- 3 oz Prosecco
- 2 oz Aperol
- 1 oz Soda Water
Instructions
- Fill a large wine glass with ice.
- Add prosecco, then Aperol.
- Top with a splash of soda water.
- Stir gently once.
- Garnish with an orange slice.
Tips
- The 3-2-1 ratio is the classic formula.
- Use a large wine glass, not a flute — the ice matters.
Related guides
Bitters and Modifiers
The small bottles that turn liquor into a cocktail — what each bitter and modifier does, and what to buy.
Champagne and Sparkling Decoded
Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, Crémant, English sparkling, American méthode champenoise. The actual differences, the production methods that matter, and when to spend on which.
Food Pairing — What to Drink With What
How to pair cocktails the way wine people pair wine. Match weight, mirror sweetness, use bitterness as palate eraser, and the combos that actually work.
Garnish Like You Mean It
Twists, wedges, rims, and cherries — what each garnish actually does, when to use it, and what to skip.
Glassware Decoded
The cocktail glasses that actually matter, the beer glasses worth owning, why shape changes flavor, and what to put on your shelf.
Home Bar Setup — What to Buy at $200, $500, and $1000
Tiered shopping lists that maximize the cocktails you can make per dollar. Includes the orphan bottles that aren't worth it and the cheap ones that punch above their price.
Hosting — Cocktails for People Who Have Other Things to Do
A working host's playbook. Batch the stirred drinks, pre-portion the citrus, and stop trying to bartend through your own dinner party.
Low-ABV — Drinks You Can Have Two Of
Cocktails built around fortified wines, amari, and aperitivos instead of high-proof spirits. The category that lets a long evening stay long.