Orange Aperol Spritz
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Orange Aperol Spritz is THE drink of the summer, combining Aperol, Prosecco, club soda, and a slice of orange. Add some orange juice ice cubes for an extra pop of flavor and enjoy sipping these during the hot months of summer!
Try my Frozen Vodka Slush Recipe or the best Hawaiian Mai Tais next!
Best Aperol Spritz
Now that the world is open again and people are dining out, I’ve noticed lots of pops of orange everywhere. Yes, this drink is classic and one that you can order in most restaurants. But I wanted to document it here on the blog anyway because 1) they are so pretty, and 2) you should try my version!
I’ve never been to Italy but I can feel myself being there as I sip these drinks. One day we’ll go – but for now, I’ll pretend as I sip this zippy cocktail.
For some other delicious cocktails, try my Frozen Gin and Tonics, Hawaiian Mai Tais, or Rose Sangria with Vodka!
Ingredients:
- Aperol – See below for the deets!
- Prosecco – A light-bodied, vibrant, fresh, highly aromatic and crisp wine. It has a medium to high amount of acidity and large, frothy bubbles. It’s produced from the Glera grape in the Veneto region of Italy.
- Orange Ice Cubes – I added some orange juice ice cubes (prep in advance!) to add some sweetness to these cocktails! You could also just use orange juice and regular ice cubes.
- Club Soda – A nice finisher for this spritz.
What is Aperol?
Aperol is an Italian liqueur that’s an aperitif: a liquor designed for sipping before a meal. It’s bright orange in color and is the key ingredient in the popular Aperol Spritz. This drink became integral to the culture of northeastern Italy, where meeting friends over a Spritz is a weekly affair, and solidified Aperol’s place in Italian cocktail culture.
The alcohol content of Aperol is 11%, half of it’s “brother” drink, Campari. 11% alcohol content is similar to most wines which tend to have alcohol contents between 10% to 15%.
NOTE: The classic Aperol Spritz is 1:1 ratio of aperol to Prosecco. I adjusted it to 1:2 in my recipe.
How to make Orange Aperol Spritz:
Step 1
Make the orange cubes (in advance). This is an optional step. Just pour some orange juice (freshly squeezed or store-bought juice) into some ice cube holders. Freeze until solid.
Step 2
Serve. In two wine glasses, add the frozen cubes. Then add the Aperol, Prosecco, and the club soda.
Step 3
Serve. Garnish with some orange slices. Sip away!
How to Adjust Your Aperol Spritz
Generally, the ratio is equal parts Aperol and Prosecco plus a splash of club soda. However, I think most people adjust it slightly according to their personal preference (like I did)!
Make it less bitter
Aperol’s bitter notes can take some getting used to, so you can definitely reduce the bitterness by using less Aperol and more Prosecco.
Likewise, you can add more aperol and less Prosecco (since I’ve already adjusted the classic 1:1 ratio in this recipe).
Make it less boozy
This recipe for Aperol spritz is around 11 percent alcohol content. To make it even lower in alcohol content, use more club soda and less Aperol and Prosecco.
Add some orange juice.
I used some flavored ice cubes by freezing some orange juice. You could also just add a splash of juice to your spritz. It’s ok – I won’t tell the Italian spritz police! 🙂
What to serve with Aperol Spritz:
The aperol spritz is commonly served as an apéritif which are designed to be served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. They’re usually lightly alcoholic and more dry than sweet.
So we definitely need some snacks to serve with these cocktails per usual!
Enjoy, and drink responsibly!
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Orange Aperol Spritz
Ingredients
- 6 oz. Aperol liquor
- 12 oz. Prosecco – or another sparkling wine
- 4 oz club soda
- orange juice cubes – optional
- orange slices – to serve
Instructions
- Make the orange cubes (in advance). This is an optional step. Just pour some orange juice (freshly squeezed or store-bought juice) into some ice cube holders. Freeze until solid.
- Serve. In two wine glasses, add the frozen cubes. Then add the Aperol, Prosecco, and the club soda.
- Serve. Garnish with some orange slices. Sip away!
I love an Aperol Spritz, my drink of the summer and this version is my jam with the extra orange pop!! I also imagine myself in Italy while on the roof watching the sun go down. Some day……
Agreed! I want to enjoy these in Italy too! 🙂