7 Spritz Cocktails you need to make this Summer (Recipes inside!)

The Spritz Cocktail is THE serve of the season. Summer calls for an easy-drinking, easy-to-make concoction that’s refreshingly effervescent and bursting with flavour. But let’s get something out of the way first, we know it’s a bold choice to call our summer theme, ‘The Summer of Spritz’ considering the weather, but stay with us…

For those keeping up with the daily NYT games, the word ‘Spritz’ could well be a homonym at this point. Meaning, if it’s spritzing outside there should be a spritz in your glass. A simple solution that gets you taking control of your aperitivo hour - hopefully then, the sun may decide to will follow suit.

Why is the Spritz such a good Summer serve?

First of all, there’s no need for fiddly jigger measurements when there is a robust 3-2-1 formula: 3 parts Sparkling Wine, 2 parts Liqueur / Aperitif, and 1 part soda.

With the 3-2-1 method, the ingredients might change but the rhythm stays the same - this uncomplicated cocktail allows you to play around with an unlimited number of spritz combinations without loosing track of how much you’re pouring in (plus, it’s especially helpful when you’re making a load of them at once!).

It’s elegant, simple, refreshing, and versatile, what more would you want from a 3 ingredient summer serve?

Let’s take a look at some of our favourite spritz recipes…

The Classic Aperol Spritz

Although this blog is all about exploring the alternative spritz options out there, The Aperol Spritz is famous for good reason. Brimming with a vibrant orange hue and effervescent character, the Aperol Spritz is undoubtedly an icon of Aperitivo Hour.

If you want to know more, take a sip of Aperol’s history, here.

This vibrant Italian aperitif has achieved the cult classic status, not surprising when those orange umbrellas start popping up everywhere as soon as the sun makes an appearance.

How to make an Aperol Spritz

3 parts Prosecco

2 parts Aperol

1 part Soda Water

Orange slice for garnish

Fill a wine glass with cubed ice.

Pour your ingredients straight into the glass using the 3-2-1 formula.

Stir gently and garnish with an orange wedge.

Vedrenne Aperitivo Spritz

If you have your eyes and palate set on a zesty, bittersweet serve, Vedrenne Aperitivo has been specially crafted for a Spritz Cocktail. To taste, this classic aperitivo is made from French neutral spirit and fruit distillates, so you can expect an approachable bitterness with rich orange citrus notes.

The Vedrenne group is family owned and exclusively specialises in high-quality liqueurs and syrups, they’ve been at it for over 100 years now, so you best believe your cocktails are in safe hands with Vedrenne.

How to make a Spritz with Vedrenne Aperitivo

3 parts Prosecco

2 parts Vedrenne Aperitivo

1 part Soda Water

Orange slice for garnish

Fill a wine glass with cubed ice.

Pour your ingredients straight into the glass using the 3-2-1 formula.

Stir gently and garnish with an orange wedge.

The Limoncello Spritz

The Limoncello Spritz was all over our social feeds last year, with it’s alluring golden hue being incredibly unforgettable. But we think it’s more than just another trend, and is actually a fantastic alternative for those who just can’t seem to get along with the bitterness of orange aperitivos.

Limoncello is a lemon-infused spirit from the heart of Italy, and Luxardo Limoncello remains to be a classic of the genre. It’s lengthy infusion process lends a bright flavour profile to the serve, where you can expect zesty lemon and fresh acidity throughout.

Luxardo have been making this lovely yellow liquid since 1906, but it’s the 2010 recipe that comes with a more intense lemon flavour, with 25% more fresh lemon juice and essential oils from Sicilian lemon peel.

It’s not too sweet as far as Limoncellos go either - Luxardo seems to have struck the perfect balance between syrupy deliciousness and citrus blast.

How to make a Limoncello Spritz

3 parts Prosecco

2 parts Limoncello

1 part Soda Water

Lemon peel for garnish

Fill a wine glass with cubed ice.

Pour your ingredients straight into the glass using the 3-2-1 formula.

Stir gently and garnish with a lemon peel.

Prosecco works beautifully here, it accentuates the lemony sweetness while allowing the effervescent components to shine, ultimately creating a harmonious balance that is lively and incredibly refreshing.

The Al Fresco Spritz

‘A terrace, hustle and bustle and good vibes’ - the tasty philosophy behind El Bandarra’s aperitivo, a drink made to be shared. El Bandarra have worked to filter the taste of Barcelona in a bottle with their latest Al Fresco Aperitivo.

A tribute to the nostalgic age of vermouth in Barcelona, which when you take a closer look at the adorned and resealable bottle, it’s reminiscent of when bars painted the tapas they offered on their windows in colourful hand written letters to attract passers-by.

El Bandarra Al Fresco is their latest light aperitif, macerated with Mediterranean botanicals, spices and citrus, with intense and refreshing grapefruit flavour. Designed to lengthen your aperitif, you can transform this bottling into a spritz or a simple mix with tonic - the choice is yours!

Crafting the perfect Al Fresco Spritz 

3 parts Cava

2 parts El Bandarra Al Fresco

1 part Soda Water

Orange or grapefruit wedges to garnish

Fill a wine glass with cubed ice.

Pour your ingredients straight into the glass using the 3-2-1 formula.

Stir gently to mix and garnish with citrus.

We’ve gone for a splash of Cava with this one, a Spanish sparkling wine to continue to the homage to Spain’s delicious aperitivo hour.

L'Aperitivo Botanical Spritz

Crafted by the Italian grappa maestros, Nonino, this deliciously light saffron-coloured botanical drink offers a more subtle and flexible blending partner than classic red aperitivos.

Bottled at a punchy 21% ABV, L’Aperitivo Nonino is bursting with fresh citrus while its slightly bitter edge mingles with floral, fruity and balsamic flavour. Nonino’s Frangolino grape distillate is perfectly blended with 16 slow-dried botanicals including gentian and rhubarb for a completely vegan-friendly botanical bottling.

How to make a Botanical Spritz with L'Aperitivo Nonino

3 parts Prosecco

2 parts L’Aperitivo Nonino Botanical Drink

1 part Soda Water

Lemon peel for garnish

Fill a wine glass with cubed ice.

Pour your ingredients straight into the glass using the 3-2-1 formula.

Stir gently and garnish with a lemon peel.

While L’Aperitivo Nonino Botanical Drink absolutely bends perfectly with Prosecco for a spritzer, the family themselves lean towards a more simple serve with tonic…like we said flexible and versatile!

The Bergamot Spritz

Time to impress your fellow Spritz drinkers with a unique liqueur for cocktail enthusiasts - Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto. Sweet, fragrant, versatile - Italicus is a very Italian spirit that radiates zesty citrus oils with a soft floral (chamomile) aroma. Bergamot and sherbet lemons floods the senses to taste, where you can expect honeyed gentian and a perfumed floral finish.

Italicus is made to take you on a journey from North to South of Italy, ‘encapsulating the flavour, art and creativity’ of the country in liquid form. By only using I.G.P Bergamot from a UNESCO protected area in Calabria, quality and fresh flavour is clear to taste.

How to make the perfect Italicus Spritz

If you’re after a spritz that’s a little lighter on the alcohol, we highly suggest giving Italicus a try.

3 parts Prosecco

2 parts Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto

1 part soda water

3 green olives to garnish

Fill a wine glass with cubed ice.

Pour your ingredients straight into the glass using the 3-2-1 formula.

Stir gently and garnish with a lemon peel and green olives.

Choosing to garnish your Italicus Spritz with olives is a brilliant way to step up your Spritz game. The olives work to balance the floral aromas with a touch of saltiness creating an elevated alternative to the classic spritz.

Switching it up - Try the Negroni Sbagliato

For those whose ties to Campari’s bold, bittersweet orange notes are just too strong to substitute, this lighter, bubblier version of the Negroni is a charming alternative to savour.

If the Negroni cocktail is your go-to favourite, but you’re questioning if the alcohol level is a tad too strong for aperitivo hour, simply switch out the gin for Prosecco and you have yourself a Negroni Sbagliato.

Last summer we wrote a whole guide to ‘sipping off the beaten track’ with 3 fail-safe Negroni twists you have to try.

How to make a Negroni Sbagliato

Despite the Negroni Sbagliato not fitting into the 3-2-1 formula, don’t panic - this 3 ingredient cocktail is all equal parts and easily adjusted to taste.

30ml Campari

30ml Sweet Vermouth

30ml Prosecco

Garnish with an orange peel

Fill your glass with cubed ice.

Add the Campari and Sweet Vermouth.

Top with Prosecco and gently stir to combine.

Garnish with an orange twist.

Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Spritz

• Always chill your Prosecco before making your cocktails to ensure it remains fresh and effervescent.
• The 3-2-1 formula is just a starting point! If you want a lighter overall serve, skip the Prosecco and stick to soda or tonic. Want more liqueur? Add more liqueur - you’re at home, you can do what you like.
• More ice the better - we always fill our glasses full with cubed ice, it will keep your drink colder for longer and will slow down the dilution process, despite what people say.

And there we have it 7 Spritz Recipes ready for you to use at your disposal, don’t forget to let us know which one ends up being your favourite!