Definitive Aperol Spritz Recipe

Imagine yourself in a small wine bar off the Venetian coast, enjoying the late summer sun sinking into the sky. In front of you is a plate of cicchetti and a tall wine glass filled with the colors of the sunset behind it. In this moment, there's really nothing better than the crisp and refreshing taste of an Italian Aperol spritz.

You might not be able to recreate this scenario, exactly, but with this recipe shared by Michelle McGlinn below, you can get pretty close on your own home patio. Aperol spritz is a classic Italian aperitif that mixes bitter Aperol liqueur with sweet, bubbly Prosecco and crisp club soda. Like many Italian aperitifs, the spritz is a perfect balance between sweet and bitter, meant for sipping alongside pre-dinner bar snacks. While there's no wrong way to put this drink together, this recipe offers the best ratio for a classic Aperol spritz. If you haven't tried it yet, this might just be your new favorite drink.

Most importantly, you'll need a bottle of Aperol, which is a bright orange-red liqueur found near spirits like Campari in the liquor store. You could make this with Campari instead (this would technically be called a Negroni spritz), but the taste will be more bitter and dry than the slightly sweet, citrusy Aperol version.

You'll also need Prosecco, club soda, and a wedge or wheel of orange to garnish. If you prefer the drink to be less sweet, try garnishing with a pair of green olives, instead.

This may seem strange for a drink with sparkling wine, but Aperol spritzes are often served over ice. Use a bubble glass or large wine glass and fill with any kind of ice — McGlinn loves large ice cubes, but any kind will do. Wedge the orange slice into the glass first, sliding it behind the ice, so that it stays in the glass after pouring in the spirits. If you add the orange after pouring the Prosecco, it will float to the top (and make a really big mess).

If you've had aperol spritzes that were just "okay", it was likely because of the Prosecco used. The higher quality the sparkling wine, the better the spritz. Choose a Prosecco that is brut or extra-dry, which will be the driest and the best complement to the Aperol. For a sweeter spritz, choose a Prosecco labeled dry (the sweetest variation). Pour the wine slowly over the Aperol, and stop a few inches short of the top.

The word spritz originated from the German word spritzen, which referred to wine that was diluted or "spritzed" with water for being too strong. Without the club soda in this recipe, the Aperol spritz is very strong and possibly too sweet, depending on your tastes. You can use club soda, sparkling water, or seltzer to splash into the drink and dilute the strength and flavor. We recommend a 3:2:1 ratio of Prosecco, Aperol, and club soda, but you can adjust to your tastes.

This drink is the epitome of summertime and is best enjoyed for lunch or as a late-afternoon aperitif before dinner. For an easy happy hour, throw together a charcuterie board of meats, cheeses, and olives. To do it as the Italians do, prepare some more involved savory appetizers like cicchetti, arancini, or crostini. Aperol spritzes make a perfect, easy cocktail to share with friends and serve for summer soirées. While they're best poured individually, you can batch-make a pitcher of spritzes by following the 3:2:1 ratio; 3 cups Prosecco, 2 cups Aperol, 1 cup club soda. That way, the drinks are ready to be poured all afternoon and you can peacefully enjoy the evening with a glass full of Italian sunset.