Summer is the perfect time to enjoy spritz cocktails, mixing the sweet and bitter flavors of liqueurs like Aperol and Campari with a fresh kick from gin or the fizzy fun of prosecco. Learn about the different kinds of spritz recipes that make the season shine.
While many people think of the “spritz” as a single cocktail—often the Aperol Spritz—it’s actually a whole category of drinks.
The Aperol Spritz may be the most famous version, but it’s only one among many. From Campari Spritz to Limoncello and St-Germain spritzes, the term “spritz” covers a wide range of refreshing, bubbly cocktails, each bringing a twist to the basic formula.
The classic recipe uses the 3:2:1 formula—three parts prosecco, two parts liqueur, and one part soda water—served in a large wine or rocks glass over ice. These drinks are light, refreshing, and relatively low in alcohol compared to other classic cocktails. This makes them the perfect choice for relaxed spring and summer afternoons, long social gatherings, or as a pre-dinner aperitif.
25 Best Spritz Cocktail Recipes
Our experts at Drinksword find Spritz Cocktail varieties just great. They have less alcohol and taste refreshing, making them ideal for hot days. Plus, they are easy to make and look bubbly and appealing, making them popular for casual and fancy events. Our selection of the best mixes:
Aperol Spritz
You mix Aperol, an orange-flavored liqueur, with sparkling prosecco and a splash of soda water. Serve it over ice and add an orange slice for a sunny, bubbly drink.
Campari Spritz
This one resembles the Aperol Spritz but swaps in Campari for a more bitter taste. Combine Campari with prosecco and soda water, then pour it over ice. It’s often garnished with an orange slice, giving it a striking red color and a bold flavor.
Cynar Spritz
Cynar, made from artichokes, gives this Spritz a unique, herbal kick. Mix it with prosecco and soda water, serve it on ice, and you’ll get a drink that’s intriguing and refreshing, often garnished with an orange slice or an olive.
Hugo Spritz
Start with elderflower syrup or liqueur for a sweet floral note and mix it with prosecco and soda water. It’s a light, refreshing drink often garnished with fresh mint leaves and served over ice, perfect for a warm day.
Americano Spritz
Take the classic Americano cocktail, mix Campari and sweet vermouth, and top it with a little soda water and prosecco for fizz. It’s a bittersweet, sparkling drink, poured over ice and garnished with an orange slice.
Lillet Spritz
This one uses Lillet Blanc, a fruity French aperitif, combined with prosecco and a splash of tonic water. Serve it chilled with ice and garnish with a slice of cucumber or a sprig of rosemary for a touch of elegance.Â
Negroni Sbagliato
It’s the happy mistake where gin is replaced with prosecco. Mix Campari and sweet vermouth with prosecco for a bubbly twist on the classic Negroni. It’s a bit lighter, served over ice with an orange slice for garnish.
Limoncello Spritz
A zesty and sweet Spritz made with Limoncello, the lemon liqueur, mixed with prosecco and soda water. It’s bright and tangy, served over ice and often garnished with a twist of lemon peel for an extra lemony flavor.
Rosé Spritz
This one’s all about summer vibes, mixing chilled rosĂ© wine with a touch of aperitivo liqueur and sparkling water. Throw in a handful of berries or a citrus slice and you’ve got yourself a sunny-day sipper that’s light and fruity.
Pear Spritz
Fall in a glass, this spritz takes pear liqueur and adds it to prosecco with a bit of soda water for fizz. It’s often served with a thin slice of pear bobbing in the glass, giving off a sweet, mellow taste that’s just right for cooler weather.
Bitter Orange Spritz
If you like a citrus kick, this is your drink. It shakes up bitter orange liqueur with prosecco and a splash of club soda. Finish it off with an orange wheel garnish, and you get a spritz that’s a little sweet, a little tart, and refreshing.
Aperitivo Rosso Spritz
Deep and herbaceous, this spritz uses a red aperitivo like Aperitivo Rosso, pours in some prosecco, and tops it off with a hint of soda water. It’s bold and flavorful, like sipping on a fizzy herbal tea with a boozy kick.
Venetian Spritz
Straight from Venice, this classic takes either Select or Aperol and mixes it up with prosecco and a little soda for bubbles. It’s often served with an olive or a twist of orange or lemon, giving you that perfect balance of bitter, sweet, and salty.
Rhubarb Spritz
You take rhubarb-based bitter liqueur, add it to some sparkling prosecco, and top it off with soda water. This makes for a tangy and slightly sweet drink that’s perfect when you want something different.
Basil Spritz
Start with basil-infused simple syrup or liqueur, mix it with prosecco and soda water, and get a refreshing, herbal spritz. It’s garnished with fresh basil leaves and it’s like a garden party in a glass.
Ginger Spritz
This one’s got a spicy kick from ginger liqueur, balanced out with the bubbles from prosecco and soda water. It’s a zingy, refreshing choice that wakes up your taste buds.
Pimm’s Spritz
Pimm’s No. 1, a gin-based liqueur with herbs and spices, is combined with prosecco and a splash of soda. It’s a British classic turned fizzy and is often loaded with fruit for a punch-like spritz.
Cucumber Spritz
This cool customer muddles cucumber with a splash of lime then mixes with prosecco and soda water. It’s as refreshing as it sounds, like a spa day in a glass, making it perfect for hot days or when you’re after something light and crisp.
Suze Spritz
Mix Suze, a French aperitif with a gentle bitterness and herbal notes, with prosecco and a dash of soda water. It’s a sophisticated drink that’s unique and invigorating, garnished often with a twist of lemon.
Lo-Fi Spritz
This is a modern twist where you combine Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro, known for its floral and earthy flavors, with prosecco and a bit of soda water. It’s a less-known but delightful spritz that’s as hip as it sounds.
Cappelletti Spritz
Cappelletti, an Italian aperitivo with a wine base, comes together with prosecco and soda for a spritz that’s both bitter and sweet, with a deep, intriguing color. It’s garnished with an orange slice to enhance its citrusy notes.
Sirene Spritz
This cocktail combines Aperitivo Sirene, a bittersweet liqueur with vibrant citrus and botanical flavors, with prosecco and soda water. It’s like a siren’s call for your senses, alluring and refreshing.
Contratto Spritz
Pour Contratto Bitter, a traditional Italian aperitif, blend with prosecco, and finish with a splash of soda water. This spritz is a throwback to the old days, with a balance of sweetness and a pleasant herbal bitterness.
Ruby Red Spritz
This spritz shines with the tartness of ruby red grapefruit liqueur, mixed with prosecco and soda water. It’s a citrusy, tangy drink that’s beautiful and refreshing.
Gin Spritz
To make a Gin Spritz, you blend gin, known for its botanical flavors, with sparkling prosecco and a bit of soda water. This creates a crisp, refreshing cocktail. It’s typically served over ice and can be garnished with a slice of lemon or a sprig of fresh herbs like rosemary or mint. For a twist, try the Pink Gin Spritz: add a splash of pink grapefruit juice or a berry liqueur to the mix, which gives the drink a blush color and a slightly sweeter, fruitier taste.
More Aperitif Cocktails and Recipes
With their light, bubbly, and often slightly bitter or citrusy flavor profile, spritzes perfectly fit the aperitif cocktail category. Following cocktails are also enjoyed before a meal because they stimulate the appetite and prepare the palate for food:
- Martini: A classic cocktail made with gin and vermouth, often garnished with an olive or a lemon twist.
- Negroni: A popular Italian cocktail with equal gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
- Manhattan: A whiskey-based cocktail traditionally made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. (More Whiskey Cocktails)
- Kir Royale: A French cocktail made with crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) topped with Champagne.
- Dry Vermouth on the Rocks: Served with a twist of lemon or olive, it’s a simple yet elegant aperitif. (More Vermouth Cocktails)
- Americano: Made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and club soda, it’s a lighter alternative to the Negroni.
- Gin and Tonic: A refreshing and simple mix of gin and tonic water, often garnished with lime or cucumber. (More Gin Cocktails)
- Daiquiri: A classic Cuban cocktail with rum, lime juice, and sugar. (More Rum Cocktails)
- French 75: A cocktail made with gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar.
- Old Fashioned: While typically considered more of a digestif, its simplicity and bittersweet profile can also make it a suitable aperitif.
FAQs
- Can I make a non-alcoholic Spritz? Yes, replace the alcoholic components with non-alcoholic sparkling wine and a bitter, non-alcoholic aperitif.
- What’s the best glass to serve a Spritz in? A Spritz is traditionally served in a large wine glass or a rocks glass.
- What food pairs well with a Spritz? Spritzes pair well with light appetizers, such as olives, cheese, cured meats, and seafood.
- What’s the origin of the Spritz cocktail? The Spritz originated in the Veneto region of Italy during the 19th century when Austrian soldiers diluted local wines with water.
Easy Spritz cocktails: Hugo Spritz Recipe (and 24 More!)
Enjoy making the Hugo Spritz recipe, a breezy mix of elderflower, prosecco, and soda water. This cocktail is straightforward and bubbly, perfect for effortless enjoyment.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Saint Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 3 oz Prosecco
- 1 oz soda water - to top
- 8-10 fresh mint leaves
- Mint sprigs and lime wedge - for garnish, optional
Equipment
- Wine Glass
- Measuring Jigger
- Bar spoon or long stirrer
Instructions
- Prep Glass with Mint: Take the mint leaves and smack them 1-2 times between your hands. Drop them into the glass.
- Add Ice: Now, fill the glass with a generous amount of ice cubes.
- Add Elderflower Liqueur: Pour 1 oz Saint Germain Elderflower Liqueur over the ice. Give it a quick stir.
- Add Prosecco: Pour approx. 3 oz Prosecco over the ice (until the glass is Âľ full).
- Add Soda Water: Add 1 oz soda water to the mix.
- Stir Gently: Use a bar spoon to stir the ingredients gently.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and mint sprigs: smack a few mint sprigs between your hands and gently place it on top of the drink. Add a straw if you want and serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Elderflower Liqueur: You can use any brand of elderflower liqueur to make this cocktail. If you can't find elderflower liqueur at all, you can use elderflower syrup as a substitute (you may have to adjust the quantities to get the right balance of sweetness and elderflower flavor).
- Prosecco: Any sparkling wine will do if you don't have Prosecco on hand. I've used Cava and Champagne before, and both work well.
- Soda Water: Club soda or any unflavored sparkling mineral water works for this recipe. can replace soda in a pinch.
Making a Pitcher of Hugo Spritz:
- Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 8 oz of Saint Germain, 24 oz of Prosecco, approximately 8 ounces of soda water, and more or less 80 fresh mint leaves (4 handfuls).
- Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the Saint Germain elderflower liqueur and mint leaves. Before dropping them into the pitcher, make sure to smack them between your hands to release their flavor. Let it rest for about 10 minutes for the flavors to infuse.
- Serve: Pour the mixture into individual ice-filled wine glasses and top up with prosecco and a splash of soda water. Stir gently to combine and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve immediately.
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Elderflower Liqueur Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic elderflower syrup; these are available and do a reasonable job mimicking the floral notes of elderflower liqueur.
- Prosecco Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
- Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
