Aperol Spritz: All about the tasty global cocktail sensation

Our latest Cocktail Basics guide will have you mixing Aperol Spritzes, and some tasty variations, to your heart’s content

Quick, name the most popular cocktail in America. Margarita was our guess. But wrong. Gin & Tonic? Old Fashioned? Nope and nope. Espresso Martini? Not even.

The most popular cocktail in the U.S. (and in Colorado) is the Aperol Spritz, according to a recent study we have no reason to doubt. We actually kinda love this survey, because we kinda love Aperol Spritzes and their many sippable variations. 

So we decided to make the current king of American cocktails the subject of our latest Cocktail Basics post. Join us to learn the basic Aperol Spritz recipe and some ideas for taking it in a different direction. And know that Bullfrog Wine & Spirits in Fort Collins stocks everything you need to make an Aperol Spritz, try a variation, or just grab a ready-to-drink version.

Aperol Spritz history: From beloved Italian sipper to global favorite 

The Aperol Spritz has gone from a quiet Italian classic to the unofficial drink of summer worldwide, not just in the U.S. With its bright orange hue and bittersweet fizz, the Spritz is basically a vacation in a glass. You’ll find it clinking around in wine glasses from New York to Naples, all thanks to its Instagrammable look and easygoing vibe. It’s a cocktail that says, “I’m here to have fun, but I’m also kind of classy.”

Now, a little history. The Aperol Spritz didn’t just appear out of nowhere like your neighborhood party crasher. It started in northern Italy in the early 20th century, when the Barbieri brothers created Aperol in 1919. The Spritz part? That goes back even further – to the 1800s, when Austrians in Venice started adding a “spritz” of water to Italian wine to ease up on the booze.

Fast forward to modern times, and the combo of Aperol, prosecco, and soda water has made a big splash (bad pun alert). It’s simple, it’s chic, and let’s be honest – it’s a little bit of a show-off, without being too pretentious. And we love it for that. 

So let’s get into the Aperol Spritz basic recipe and some variations.

Aperol Spritz recipe variations

As mentioned above, spritzes were around even before Aperol. People have taken the spritz cocktail in many directions over the years. Our last Cocktail Basics post, the Paloma, is a particularly good one. Here are a few more ideas.

• Switch up the bubbly: In Paris, you might get an Aperol Spritz with Champagne instead of Prosecco. But really, any sparkling wine will work. We like the vibrant complexity of a Pet-Nat.
  
• Use a still wine: Italy wouldn’t be insulted if you used a nice Pinot Grigio here, but any crisp white wine would be good. We would avoid anything too oaky or buttery, but if that’s your jam, go with it.
  
• Try a different Amaro: The world of Amari should be its own post, but let’s just say there are MANY good options to swap in for Aperol in equal amounts. Campari is a natural, and the Campari Spritz has a following in its own right. Averna, Montenegro, Amaro Nonino or Australian Okar would all be excellent and bring their own pizazz to the drink.
  
• Use a liqueur instead: Why not go for the cherry vermouth vibe of Luxardo Antico, or the raspberry goodness of Chambord, or gingery Canton, or an elderflower liqueur, or even a good Limoncello? You might end up with a Hugo, or a Ginger Spritz, or something unique that you can name for yourself.
  
• Skip the booze: Bullfrog Wine & Spirits has all you need for a few rounds of non-alcoholic spritzes. You could start with one of the non-alcoholic sparkling wines from Gruvi or Libby, and we have a range of non-alcoholic mixers that would make a good spritz. 

You can go pretty crazy with variations on an Aperol Spritz if you start with the basic recipe of 2 ounces Amaro or liqueur, 3 ounces of something sparkling, and 1 ounce of club soda.

Prefer a ready-to-drink Aperol Spritz?

Sometimes you just want things to be easy. We get it. So we stock a few ready-to-drink Aperol Spritz options. Our inventory is always rotating, but ask a Bullfrog team member to point you toward our RTD Aperol Spritz options.

Let Bullfrog Wine & Spirits be your source for Aperol Spritz ingredients

Bullfrog Wine & Spirits is the go-to liquor store serving Fort Collins, LaPorte, Timnath, Wellington, Loveland and the surrounding area. There is no better option in North Fort Collins if you’re looking for a huge selection of spirits, wines and beers.

Stop in and talk to our friendly sales team to pick up your Aperol Spritz ingredients today. And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and our newsletter for more Cocktail Basics posts and other news and specials.