We’re going to Italy this summer, so I’m celebrating with this classic Aperol spritz recipe! Aperol spritzes are ultra refreshing, not-too-sweet bubbly cocktails.
A proper Aperol spritz tastes like summertime in Italy and looks like a golden orange sunset. I’ll gladly sip one on our front porch now, overlooking our overgrown front yard, and later, with a view of the Italian Riviera.
The Aperol spritz has been in the spotlight over the past week, since the New York Times boldly declared that “The Aperol Spritz Is Not a Good Drink.” Grub Street shot back that the “Entire Internet Agrees Aperol Spritz Is, in Fact, Good.”
I, for one, find the Aperol spritz to be entirely delightful. Both articles are written with the assumption that you have tried an Aperol spritz, but what if you haven’t? I vote that we all make some this weekend and decide for ourselves.
Aperol Spritz Ingredients
These cocktails require four basic ingredients, plus ice.
1) Aperol
Only Aperol will do here. Aperol is a bright orange apéritif. The brand describes the flavors as, “zesty orange with complex herbal scents harmonized with a touch of vanilla.” Look for Aperol near the liqueurs or amaros at the liquor store.
2) Prosecco
Prosecco is an inexpensive Italian sparkling wine similar to Spanish Cava or French Champagne. I recommend choosing a dry (brut) Prosecco so you drink doesn’t turn out too syrupy or sweet. Good choices range from 12 to 18 dollars.
3) Club soda
For some fizzy dilution. Any unflavored sparkling water will work. I keep cans of sparkling water in my pantry for this purpose.
4) Slice of fresh orange
You can skip this if you don’t have it, but an orange slice is the classic garnish for an Aperol spritz.
How to Make an Aperol Spritz
Aperol spritz cocktails are unbelievably easy to make. No cocktail shaker or fancy equipment required!
You’ll simply fill a wine glass with ice, then add Aperol, Prosecco, club soda and a slice of orange.
Watch How to Make an Aperol Spritz
How to Adjust Your Aperol Spritz
The generally accepted ratio is equal parts Aperol and Prosecco plus a splash of club soda. However, you can play around with the ratio until your Aperol spritz tastes exactly the way you like it. I like mine with a little more Prosecco than Aperol.
Make it less bitter
Aperol’s bitter notes can take some getting used to, so you can reduce the bitterness by using less Aperol and more Prosecco.
Make it less boozy
As written, your Aperol spritz is around 11 percent alcohol content by volume (Aperol is 11% ABV and Prosecco is 12%). To make it even lower in alcohol content, use proportionally more club soda and less Aperol and Prosecco.
What to Serve with Your Aperol Spritz
The aperol spritz is commonly served as an apéritif. Apéritifs are designed to be served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. They’re typically lightly alcoholic and more dry than sweet.
Serve your Aperol spritzes with Italian or general Mediterranean-flavored appetizers. Keep in mind that Aperol is on the bitter side. Salty, creamy/fatty and sweet foods take the edge off bitter flavors.
Here are some simple options that pair well:
- Olives or Torn Olives with Almonds, Celery & Parmesan
- Goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, or burrata with crusty bread (perhaps with olive oil and/or good jam)
- Fresh fruit, such as grapes, oranges and strawberries
- Caprese Skewers or Mediterranean Tomato & Feta Dip
- Popcorn drizzled with olive oil (why not?)
Please let me know how you like Aperol spritz cocktails in the comments! I really love hearing from you, and hope these bubbly cocktails become your go-to summer patio drink.
Looking for more refreshing cocktails? Here are a few of my favorites, and you can view all of my cocktail recipes here.
Classic Aperol Spritz
- Author:
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Poured
- Cuisine: Italian
Learn how to make a classic Aperol spritz! These bubbly Italian cocktails are refreshing and so easy to make. Aperol spritzes are best made one by one, so the recipe is written to yield one cocktail and you can make more as necessary. Cheers!
Ingredients
Per cocktail
- Ice
- 3 ounces (1 part) Aperol
- 3 ounces (1 part) dry Prosecco
- 1 ounce (a splash) club soda or unflavored sparkling water
- Orange slice, for garnish
Instructions
- Add ice to a wine glass until it is nearly full. Pour in the Aperol (I usually eyeball this and pour until I’ve filled about one-third of the glass).
- Pour in an equal amount of Prosecco. Top your drink off with a splash of club soda and add a slice of orange. Enjoy!
Notes
Make it less bitter: Use less Aperol and more Prosecco.
Make it less boozy: Use more club soda, and less Aperol and Prosecco.
Recommended equipment: I really love the stemless wine glasses (affiliate link) shown in these photos. They are my everyday wine drinking glass, and I almost never break them.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Kari H
Just got back from Italy, starting in Rome and ending in Venice…and I absolutely fell in love with this drink! I can’t wait to make it here at home
★★★★★
Tanya
Currently in Italy and loving this drink. So delish. Can’t wait to reproduce at home. Thank you.
★★★★★
Kate
I hope you love it, Tanya!
KJ
Aperol spritz is great. And I want to offer a mod for those who like it a bit more potent: equal parts vodka and aperol, a splash of orange juice, topped with sparkling water. Don’t overdo OJ or it will be too sweet, unless you like it sweet. I sometimes overdo Aperol because I like bitter. Adding a couple of mint leaves won’t hurt. It’s a great summer drink as well.
★★★★★
Meredith
Had this drink in Nice last month while looking out into the Mediterranean Sea. I also can’t wait try my hand at making it!
★★★★★
Kate
I hope you love this recipe, Meredith! Let me know what you think when you try it.
Peter Woolliams
I often replace the Prosecco and Soda by a small can of Tonic water. Before you shudder and say ‘sacrilege’ i would i usually follow the standard traditional recipe. But if i fancy a second glass and stopped briefly while gardening for an Aperol my recipe is very much less boozy so i can still continue gardening in the sunshine after my second glass! Peter
Kate
Thank you for sharing how yo make this cocktail, Peter!
Sally Payne
Kate – if you like Aperol Spritz, I highly recommend you try a Hugo Spritz!! We just returned from Italy and these quickly became our favorite drink! So easy to make at home and the muddled mint makes it especially refreshing in the summertime!!
Mary
Fantastic cocktail! My favorite for the summer. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I’ve also made it with a Chardonnay I had on hand instead of Prosecco, and it was very good also.
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear, Mary! I appreciate your review.
J
This is a good base. I had white wine on hand and 2:2:1 was too strong so I went with 3 white wine (Prosecco), 2 Aperol, 3 sparkling water. Threw in some frozen pineapple slices and will use passion fruit purée next. Thanks!
★★★★
Diane
This recipe was far too heavy on the Aperol. For the true classic cocktail, Aperol.com has the right proportions.
★
Kate
I’m sorry you didn’t love this version. I appreciate your feedback.
Rosa
Your recipe, the photos and the way you write are beautiful. I’ve just got back from Florence and HAD to make an aperol spritz. Your recipe was the best, partly due to the above. Thank you! I can’t wait to look at other recipes of yours. X
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear, Rosa! I appreciate your review.
Ellen
Why club soda rather than seltzer? I have never liked club soda and do not understand why it is favored over seltzer for anything. And in this recipe you say any unflavored sparkling water. Seltzer to me is so much better than soda.