The spritz is liquid springtime, using the power of sparkling wine and the floral nature of this time of year. The classic involves prosecco and Aperol, but that’s merely one of countless permutations to make and enjoy this iconic sipper. Think of it as a fizzy cooler, a drinkable bouquet cut to your liking based on your favorite accents, aromatics, and mixers.
While we advise you to go with the Italian classic and use the famous bitter apéritif at least some of the time, we also want you to be curious and inventive. Like the Old Fashioned or a classic Negroni, the spritz is so much more than one thing, and it’s very much worth plunging into and fully exploring. And there’s no better time to do so than the thawing, rejuvenating, increasingly thirsty days of spring.
Whether you mix one with bubbly water, Prosecco, Cava, your favorite champagne, or something else entirely, here are some spritz cocktail recipes to make and enjoy this spring.
Rooftop rosé spritz
New York City’s Refinery Rooftop features a glass roof so that you can enjoy the view no matter the season. This spritz, created by In Good Company Hospitality’s cocktail curator, Will Benedetto, is especially perfect for enjoying during the warmer months.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces The Botanist gin
- 3/4 ounce grapefruit juice
- 1/2 ounce thyme simple syrup*
- 1/4 ounce lemon juice
- 1 piece lemon peel
- Wölffer Rosé Cider to top
Method
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake vigorously.
- Strain and pour into a glass over ice and top with Wolffer Rosé Cider.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme.
*Thyme simple syrup: Combine 1 cup sugar, 5 large thyme sprigs, and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Allow to cool and strain.
Cancion del Verano
This citrusy spritz from one of our favorite Spanish restaurants, Boqueria, mixes mint and grapefruit with vermouth and bubbly for a light, balanced libation. Dial in the volume of your Cava pour, as too much or too little can throw the whole thing off.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces Ya Cava
- 1 1/2 ounces Atxa white vermouth
- 3/4 ounce grapefruit mint cooler mix*
- 2 heavy dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
- Grapefruit wedge to garnish
Method
- Add all ingredients, save for the garnish, to a wine glass filled with ice.
- Stir briefly and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
*Grapefruit mint cooler mix: Muddle 7 large mint leaves in 3/4 ounce simple syrup. Add 3 ounces of fresh grapefruit juice and 3/4 ounces of fresh lemon juice and stir to combine.
Greenmarket spritz
New York’s Bocce teamed up with spritz master Stacey Swenson from Dante at Genuine to create this herb-packed libation, perfect for mild days and cool evenings. Pro tip: Infuse the tequila early so it’s ready when the happy hour bell is ringing.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce herb-infused Espolon Blanco tequila*
- 1/2 ounce Carpano Dry vermouth
- 1 ounce fresh cucumber juice
- 1/4 ounce agave syrup
- 1/4 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 dash Bitter Truth Celery Bitters
- 1 dash saline
- Cucumber strips to garnish
Method
- Add all ingredients, save for the garnish, to a wine glass filled with ice.
- Stir briefly and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
*Herb-infused tequila: Combine a bottle of Espolon Blanco tequila with 1 tablespoon ground oregano, 2 rosemary sprigs, and 2 thyme sprigs. Let macerate for 24 hours at room temperature. Strain and discard the herbs. Store the herb-infused tequila in the fridge until ready to use.
Almond and peach spritz
Equal parts nutty, fruity, and delicious, this drink from Gary Wallach has us thinking of warm brunch patios. It’s an al fresco sipper that’s not too heavy, so you can keep ahold of your day even if you’re imbibing right around noon.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Dolin dry vermouth
- 1/2 ounce Maker’s Mark
- 3/4 ounce peach puree
- 1/2 ounce orgeat
- Prosecco and soda to top
- Lemon twist and mint sprig to garnish
Method
- Add the first four ingredients to a wine glass and add ice.
- Top with equal parts Prosecco and soda.
- Use a bar spoon to agitate the ingredients.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and mint sprig.
Bicicletta
For this next spritz cocktail recipe, we go back to Italy. The Bicicletta (the Italian word for “bicycle”) is a close cousin to the better-known Aperol spritz and the Negroni, but it has a more bitter taste thanks to the Campari, which substitutes for Aperol in this cocktail.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces dry white wine (pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc works best)
- 2 ounces Campari
- Chilled club soda
- 2 orange wheels (for garnish)
Method
- Add the wine and Campari into a wine glass or a double rocks glass.
- Fill the glass 3/4 full with ice.
- Top with club soda.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with the orange wheels.
