At just 3 ingredients and no shaker required, the aperol spritz is one of the easiest cocktails ever to make! Not to mention, it's delicious.
The aperol spritz is one of my drinks of choice (the campari spritz and Hugo cocktail are definitely up there too!), and I like drinking them when the weather starts getting warmer. It's such a light, bubbly cocktail, so it makes sense that it's synonymous with warmer spring and summer days (although I wouldn't say no to it any time of the year!).
What kind of alcohol is Aperol?
Aperol is an Italian bitter aperitif liqueur made of bitter and sweet oranges, rhubarb, and different herbs and roots, giving it its distinct flavor. It is bright orange in color and has a relatively low alcohol content for a liquor at 11%.
The fact that Aperol (and consequently an aperol spritz) is an aperitif, means that the cocktail is generally consumed before a meal to stimulate the appetite.
Ingredients:
The amazing thing about this drink is that it's made with only 3 ingredients (and there's no shaker required!):
- Aperol
- Prosecco
- Club Soda
- Orange garnish (optional)
What does it taste like?
It's delicious - it's slightly bitter but also sweet, with a flavor of oranges and herbs. The prosecco makes it bubbly and refreshing.
Substitutions:
Even though Aperol is quite distinct in flavor, there are a few substitution options. They won't taste the exact same, but you will get a similar flavor and bitterness, and they will taste delicious when mixed with prosecco):
- Campari (I have a campari spritz recipe if you'd like to try it out!)
- Vermouth
- Other Italian aperitif liqueurs - like Contratto or Luxardo aperitif
What is the difference between Aperol and Campari?
The first main difference is that Aperol's alcohol content is much lower than Campari's. Campari’s alcohol content is 20.5% to 28% (depending on where it’s sold) and aperol’s alcohol content is 11%. So Aperol tastes much lighter and has as milder flavor than Campari.
In terms of flavor, both have very similar flavors of orange and herbs, but aperol is sweeter and has a milder flavor than campari. Some would say aperol is more approachable than campari, especially if one is first getting started on drinking bitter liquers.
The two liquers also look different – aperol is orange in color, while campari is a deep red/crimson color.
Over all, Aperol is milder than Campari in terms of strength, flavor, and appearance.
How to serve an Aperol Spritz:
The classic and most traditional way to serve this cocktail is in a wine glass. Some even serve it in stemless wine glasses or highball glasses, but a wine glass with a stem is still the most authentic way to serve it.
Tips for making in large batches:
For one cocktail, the Aperol Spritz measurements/ratios are 2 parts Aperol to 3 parts prosecco, and a splash of club soda. If you wanted to make an Aperol Spritz in a large batch and serve it in a pitcher, you could fill the pitcher with ice, and follow those same ratios. Just be careful to use it up and serve it quickly, or the large amounts of ice may dilute the cocktail.
How to make an Aperol Spritz - Step by Step
Fill a wine glass with ice cubes (I used about 6 ice cubes). Pour in the aperol (photo 1)
Top the aperol with the prosecco. (photo 2)
Add a splash of club soda (photo 3) Stir gently to combine.
Add a slice of orange to the glass (photo 4) Enjoy!
Top tips:
- Make sure your prosecco is chilled - the spritz will taste better and stay colder longer this way
- Use a high quality prosecco - since prosecco plays a large part in this cocktail, using a high quality one is crucial. And most importantly, don't use white wine in place of prosecco! It just won't be the same.
- Just add a splash of club soda - not too much or it will dilute the flavors.
- Feel free to play with the aperol to prosecco ratio, but I find the 2:3 ratio is optimal. I also measure with a shot glass (with oz markings on it), to get the ratios just right.
Other cocktail recipes you might like:
If you’ve tried making this Aperol Spritz, or any other recipe on the blog please let me know what you thought of it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’ve been up to.
Recipe
Classic Aperol Spritz - Easy 3 Ingredient Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz Aperol
- 3 oz Prosecco, chilled
- splash of club soda
- orange to garnish
Instructions
- Fill a wine glass with ice cubes (I used about 6 ice cubes)
- Pour in the aperol.
- Top the aperol with the prosecco. Add a splash of club soda. Stir gently to combine.
- Add a slice of orange to the glass. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Make sure your prosecco is chilled - the spritz will taste better and stay colder longer this way
- Use a high quality prosecco - since prosecco plays a large part in this cocktail, using a high quality one is crucial. And most importantly, don't use white wine in place of prosecco! It just won't be the same.
- Just add a splash of club soda - not too much or it will dilute the flavors.
- Feel free to play with the aperol to prosecco ratio, but I find the 2:3 ratio is optimal. I also measure with a shot glass (with oz markings on it), to get the ratios just right.
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