1. Aperol Spritz
Ah, the classic Aperol Spritz. It's beyond easy to make, so you really can’t go wrong. With it's simple, light, and not too sweet flavor profile, you'll be left feeling pleasantly buzzed without that too-much-too-soon cocktail fear factor. After all, it is an aperitif. For those of you who don’t know what that means, allow me to enlighten you. Aperitifs are cocktails that are meant to be imbibed before a meal to stimulate appetite without making you too sugared up or altering your taste buds too much to enjoy your meal to the fullest, and Aperol Spritz achieves this to perfection. So, grab some glasses and let’s get started.
Ingredients:
Aperol
Prosecco
Club Soda
Fresh Orange Slices
Recipe:
1. Fill glass halfway with ice.
2. Pour equal parts Aperol, Prosecco, and Club Soda into the glasses.
3. Give it a quick stir.
4. Garnish with an orange slice.
5. Enjoy!
Bonus:
Calorie Estimate: ~117 calories
Part of the magic of such an easy drink is that you can easily alter it to your taste, so if you’re not a fan of the more bitter taste of Aperol, cut it back slightly and replace with Prosecco.
Pair With:
Salty or creamy appetizers pair perfectly with the bitter elements of this drink, so a cheese board is the ideal tasty sidekick.
2. Hugo Spritz
This Italian cocktail is a personal favorite of mine, since I’m a huge fan of floral flavors, but if you’ve never had elderflower before, don’t be afraid. It’s the perfect balance of light, refreshing, and sweet, and it’s sure to upgrade your aperitif cocktail experience. The Hugo Spritz goes by many names, such as “St. Germain Spritz”or “Elderflower Spritz,” but regardless of what you wanna call it, it’s beyond delicious. Just like the Aperol Spritz, it’s all too easy to make, but it’s a step in the sweeter direction than the classic, but is by no means overly so, since the floral notes balance out the sweet.
Ingredients:
St. Germain
Prosecco
Club Soda
Mint
Lime
Recipe:
1. Fill glass with ice.
2. Add one or two lime slices, to taste.
3. For best taste, roll washed mint in between your palms, rip into smaller pieces, and drop into glasses. About four to six leaves per glass will do.
4. Pour in about two tablespoons of St. Germain.
5. Top off with equal parts Prosecco and Club Soda.
6. Stir and enjoy!
Bonus:
Calorie Estimate: ~139 calories
St. Germain is the most popular of the elderflower liqueurs, but any brand will do… especially since they are generally less expensive.Sparkling rosé is an excellent way to spice up the classic if you’re a rosé fan.
Pair With:
Since it’s so light and refreshing, but still has that sweeter undertone, it pairs well with almost any brunch dish.
3. Campari Spritz
Where the Hugo Spritz is the sweeter cousin of the Aperol Spritz, the Campari Spritz is its more bitter counterpart. If you’re not familiar with Campari, it’s a bitter, red colored liqueur and is often used to make the famous Negroni cocktail. Bubbly and bold, this cocktail will leave you refreshed and ready for more. What's more, there’s less risk of finishing the drink too quickly, as the bitter elements of the drink tend to slow drinkers down to sippers. Be that as it may, don't be afraid to try it, as the bubbly elements of the drink brighten it up enough to be enjoyable for almost all palates.
Ingredients:Campari
Prosecco
Club Soda
Orange Slice
Recipe:
1. Fill glass with ice.
2. Fill glass with one part Campari, two parts Club Soda, and three parts Prosecco.
3. Give it a stir.
4. Garnish with an orange slice.
5. Enjoy!
Bonus:
Calorie Estimate: ~125 calories
If you’re not a big fan of oranges, any citrus fruit will do as a substitute.
Pair With:
Like the Aperol Spritz, the Campari Spritz pairs excellently with cheese or charcuterie boards.
4. Cassis Spritz
Odds that you’ve heard of the Cassis Spritz are slim, but after you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder how it is that you’ve lived this long without it. Fans of berry flavors in particular are about to have their lives changed forever, so get ready for a spritzy trip to flavor town. Cassis is a black currant flavor, but while that may sound rather intimidating to American readers, since black current— just like elderflower— is a rather uncommon flavor to come across, it really is very similar to blackberry. The cassis brings a fruity, lightly sweet, and mildly tart flavor to the table that will leave you with an empty glass quicker than you thought possible.
Ingredients:
Crème de Cassis
Prosecco
Club Soda
Blackberries
Recipe:
1. Fill glass with ice.
2. Pour one part Crème de Cassis, two parts Club Soda, and three parts Prosecco into the glass.
3. Give it a stir.
4. Garnish with blackberries.
5. Enjoy!
Bonus:Calorie Estimate: ~ 129 calories
While this cocktail is called the Cassis Spritz, any type of black currant syrup will work just as well.
Pair With:
Any kind of hors d'oeuvres of your choosing, but seafood and fish dishes are particularly tasty for Cassis Spritz.
5. Ginger Spritz
If you’re a fan of Moscow Mules, then the Ginger Spritz is perfect for you. It still has that spicy, ginger bite, but in the typical spritz fashion, it’s lightened up to be the perfect refreshing afternoon or pre-meal cocktail. I personally cannot get enough…especially since this drink straddles the line between an aperitif and a regular cocktail, since it is often upgraded with a shot of vodka or gin.
Ingredients:
Ginger Syrup
Lime
Lime Juice
Prosecco
Club Soda
Mint
Recipe:
1. Fill glass with ice.
2. For best taste, roll washed mint in between your palms, rip into smaller pieces, and drop into glasses. About four to six leaves per glass will do.
3. Pour about two tablespoons of Ginger Syrup into glass.
4. Add a splash of lime juice, to taste.
5. Pour in one part Club Soda, and three parts Prosecco.
6. Garnish with a lime slice.
7. Stir and enjoy!
Bonus:
Calorie Estimate: ~ 200 calories
I found Ginger Syrup on Amazon, but most liquor stores should carry it.
If you are making this drink on short notice, then pick up some ginger at your local grocery store, wash and chop it, and add it to a cocktail shaker. Then, muddle it with the mint leaves and add both the lime juice and simple syrup.
Simple syrup can also be made easily from home by bringing a pot of equal parts water and sugar to a boil before allowing it to cool before use
To Make Boozier:
Add one shot of Vodka or Gin after Ginger Syrup and reduce Prosecco to two parts.
Pair With:
Since this cocktail is slightly on the spicier side, any sort of bread oriented appetizer, such as bruschetta or crostini will pair well with such a unique drink.