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Spritz

Style

A spritz is a light drink of sparkling wine, a bitter aperitivo such as Aperol, and soda water over ice.

IBA Spritz
3 oz (90 ml) Prosecco, 2 oz (60 ml) Aperol, a splash of soda water
Home ratio
3-2-1: Prosecco, bitter liqueur, soda water
Aperol strength
11% ABV
Aperol Spritz strength
About 8% to 9% ABV once the ice melts
Formula
3 oz (90 ml) Prosecco, 2 oz (60 ml) bitter aperitivo, 1 oz (30 ml) soda water, over ice in a wine glass

What spritz means

The spritz is built on three parts: sparkling wine, a bitter aperitivo, and soda water. The bitter sets the flavor, so the drink tastes more like an aperitif than a sweet mix. The home ratio is 3-2-1: three parts Prosecco, two parts bitter liqueur, and one part soda water. It is served over ice in a wine glass.

The two types are the bitter spritz and the wine spritzer. The bitter spritz uses Aperol, Campari, or Select. The wine spritzer uses only wine and soda, with no bitter, so it is a different drink. At about 8% to 9% ABV once the ice melts, a spritz is close to a strong beer. That is lower than a spirit-based drink, but it is still alcohol, so pace yourself.

A common belief is that a spritz has to be made with Aperol. It does not. The IBA spec lists Campari, Cynar, or Select as other options, and the frame stays the same: sparkling wine, a bitter, and soda. The name comes from the German verb spritzen, meaning to splash. In the Veneto under Austrian rule, a spritz was local wine lengthened with a splash of water.

How to make a spritz

Build it in a wine glass with the 3-2-1 ratio: Prosecco, a bitter aperitivo, and soda water over ice.

  1. 1.Fill a large wine glass with ice.
  2. 2.Pour in 3 oz (90 ml) Prosecco first, over the ice.
  3. 3.Add 2 oz (60 ml) Aperol, or another bitter aperitivo such as Campari.
  4. 4.Top with a splash of soda water, about 1 oz (30 ml).
  5. 5.Stir gently once, then garnish with an orange slice.

Spritz compared

  • Wine spritzerA wine spritzer is only wine and soda water. A spritz adds a bitter aperitivo, such as Aperol or Campari.
  • FizzA fizz is spirit, citrus and sugar, shaken and topped with soda. A spritz uses sparkling wine and a bitter, with no shaking.
  • HighballA highball lengthens a spirit with a mixer. A spritz lengthens a low-proof bitter with wine and soda.

Examples

Related terms

Ingredients

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Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.

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