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A couple summers ago, Adam and I revisited one of our favorite stops from our honeymoon in Italy a decade before. The famous terrace at the Hotel de Russie in Rome (dubbed “paradise on earth” by French poet Jean Cocteau) has long been known as one of the best places in the city to experience aperitivo: the Italian tradition of enjoying drinks and snacks in the evening hours between work and dinner. As Adam and I settled in for an evening of people watching, we noticed that everyone around us was sipping a sparkling orange drink out of a big wine glass garnished with an orange slice. One scan of the menu revealed it was the hotel’s classic Aperol spritz—so, of course, we ordered two.
Since then, it’s become my official drink of summer—this light, bubbly cocktail with a pleasant hit of bitterness just feels like sunshine and adventure and takes me back to this perfect day we spent in Italy. I’ve worked to finesse my own classic Aperol spritz recipe and IMHO, I’ve got it nailed. While it’s a simple drink with just a handful of ingredients, there are lots of differing opinions when it comes to the correct ratio between Aperol and prosecco and exactly how it should be garnished. I’ve got opinions of my own (which I’ll share below) but first: a little more on the Italian tradition of aperitivo. (Scroll right to the bottom of the post to grab my classic Aperol spritz recipe.)
What is aperitivo?
An Italian aperitivo is sort of like happy hour, but different (and dare I say, cooler.) At the Hotel de Russie, and everywhere else I’ve visited in Italy, everyone congregates before dinner for drinks and snacks. Sometimes the food is as simple as salty potato chips and olives, and sometimes it’s a more elevated bite and could include cheese or charcuterie. Either way, the purpose is to “awaken the appetite” for the larger meal to follow.
Traditionally, an aperitivo drink is a carbonated, slightly bitter cocktail (like the Aperol spritz or a negroni) that’s a bit lower in alcohol—the idea is to feel relaxed and happy, not tipsy. I love this ritual not only for the snacks and drinks, but for its focus on talking, savoring the moment, and enjoying the company of friends—activities that Italians seem to do so well.
What are the ingredients in a classic Aperol Spritz recipe?
I’m just going to put it out there: the Aperol Spritz is controversial. Ever since the New York Times declared that “The Aperol Spritz Is Not a Good Drink,” the debate has been on fire. At least, as fire-y as cocktail debates can be. If you read their justification, it’s mostly built on the theory that most Aperol spritzes use poor quality prosecco, which can be rectified by, duh, using a higher quality prosecco. And I’m not alone in my defense of the drink: Grub Street clapped back with, “The Entire Internet Agrees Aperol Spritz Is, in Fact, Good.” The best way to put it to rest? Just mix up my classic Aperol Spritz recipe one hot night this summer, and judge for yourself.
Here are the ingredients:
Aperol
Aperol is an orange, sweet, and slightly bitter apéritif that’s made by the Campari group—it’s quite a bit lower in alcohol than Campari however (11%). The brand describes Aperol’s spirit as “the same spirit that spontaneously gathers people together and sparks nothing but good vibes.” Yes, please!
Prosecco
Prosecco is a light, sparkling white wine, similar to Champagne, but made in Italy. Not only do I find most prosecco to be highly delicious it also happens to be pretty affordable for good quality wine. These guys explain, “Sparkling wines made in this method are produced in a much shorter amount of time (sometimes in as little as a few weeks) and at a much lower cost than those made in the traditional Champagne method. That helps to explain the $15 a bottle price point.” So, if you’re at the grocery, look for a brand that’s around this price point that’s labeled “Prosecco DOC” (an Italian quality assurance), and you’ll be good to go.
Soda
Choose your favorite club soda or sparkling water to top off the drink right at the end. One thing I love about the Aperol Spritz is that it’s a lower alcohol cocktail, and you can make it even lower by topping off your drink with more soda as you sip. This is my preferred strategy for when I want to spend three hours talking and sipping with friends on a patio without feeling overserved at the end of it.
Aperol Spritz Garnishes
The typical classic Aperol Spritz recipe will call for an orange slice—I add one to mine, but also take a cue from the bartenders at Hotel de Russie and add a lemon twist at the end, too. This burst of bitter citrus really makes the drink—when I hold it up to take a sip, the aroma of lemon mixed with the sweetness and bitterness of the drink is just ridiculously good.
That’s it! A 3-ingredient cocktail that just might become your official drink of summer, too. Rate and review if you give it a try, and show me your Aperol Spritz by tagging me on Instagram! Now scroll on for my classic Aperol Spritz recipe…
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