Aperol Spritz Recipe: The Ultimate Cafe Cocktail

One of my fondest memories of all time was taking a two-month sabbatical across Europe with my wife a couple years ago.

We’d planned to see a lot more of Europe, but well, Italy got us.

We were only supposed to be there for a few days, but the more we saw, the more we wanted to see.

Arguably the highlight of our time there was discovering the town of Sirmione in Lake Garda. When you look at a map of this peninsula sticking out into the lake, all you think is, this can’t be real…right?

But it is. Sirmione is absolutely beautiful.

But what does this have to do with an Aperol Spritz?

Well while we were there we found a quaint sidewalk cafe with a view, and enjoyed an Aperol Spritz.

Ok, let’s be real. We did this nearly every day during our time in Italy.

This vaguely Italian cocktail is low ABV, refreshing, and the perfect sipper while people-watching in a beautiful place.

But here’s the good news. It’s also incredibly easy to make at home, and is a great choice if you want something to sip on during happy hour time, but you don’t want to get completely drunk in the process.

What is an Aperol Spritz?

An Aperol Spritz is a cocktail with a simple combination of sparkling wine, Aperol, and club soda.

It’s usually served in a wine glass with a garnish of orange, so you get to feel kind of fancy every time you make it.

If you’re not familiar with Aperol, it’s an Italian aperitif similar to Campari…well kind of.

Campari is grapefruit, Aperol is orange.

Campari is about 24% alcohol in the US, while Aperol is 11%.

Both are bitter, but Aperol won’t hit you in the face quite as hard with the bitterness. 

All of this to say, it’s a refreshing, approachable drink that should be in your rotation of cocktails this summer.

How to Make an Aperol Spritz

If you order an Aperol Sprtiz at most random cafes or bars, the bartenders likely aren’t going to care much about proper proportions. They’ll just pour a shot of Aperol in and then eyeball some champagne and club soda.

And you know what? It’ll probably still taste good!

But to truly create a memorable Aperol Spritz (although may be not quite as memorable as the one at Danico), you’ll want to take a little more care and actually use a jigger.

Here’s how to make a great one

• Add 2oz of aperol to a wine glass
• Fill the wine glass with ice
• Add 3oz of sparkling wine
• Add 2oz of club soda
• Stir
• Garnish with an orange wedge

Super simple, super delicious.

And if you want to get a little adventurous, try making a Campari Spritz by switching it out for the Aperol.

Oh, and Pro tip: Pick up a Rabbit Champagne Stopper. If you’re someone who isn’t going to go through a bottle of Champagne in a night, this thing is perfect. It keeps it well carbonated for at least a week, and will make it easier for you to make Champagne cocktails like this or a French 75 without having to worry about it going flat.

Other Related Cocktails

Looking for other similar drinks? Here are a few you should consider:

• French 75 – A champagne cocktail that packs a punch
• Negroni – A stronger Italian cafe cocktail
• Americano – Somewhere between a negroni and an Aperol spritz.