32 Spritz Recipes—Best Spritz Cocktails to Make in 2024

Summer brings the perfect time to enjoy spritz cocktails, mixing the sweet and bitter tastes of Aperol and Campari with the fresh kick of gin and the fizzy fun of prosecco. Learn about the different types of spritz recipes that make the season shine.

Spritz cocktails are a family of mixed alcoholic beverages that are especially popular in Italy and have gained international fame. The drink is traditionally made with prosecco (Italian white sparkling wine), a bitter liqueur like Aperol, Campari, or Select, and a splash of soda water. This creates a refreshing, bubbly drink often enjoyed as an aperitif. The typical garnish is a slice of orange or green olive, which complements the citrusy and bitter notes of the liqueur.

Next to the popular Aperol spritz, there are other Italian Spritz drinks recipes not using Aperol but substitutes such as gin, St-Germain, Lillet, and Limoncello.

The classic recipe formula for a Spritz is in the proportions of 3:2:1 – three parts prosecco, two parts bitter liqueur, and one part soda water. It’s served over ice in a large wine glass or a rocks glass. The Spritz is refreshing and relatively low in alcohol content compared to other cocktails. This makes it a popular choice for social occasions that stretch over a few hours, particularly in the summer months or before a meal.

32 Best Spritz Cocktail Recipes

Our experts at Drinks World find Spritz Cocktails 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. 

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 rosé 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:

1. Martini: A classic cocktail made with gin and vermouth, often garnished with an olive or a lemon twist.
2. Negroni: A popular Italian cocktail with equal gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
3. Manhattan: A whiskey-based cocktail traditionally made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. (More Whiskey Cocktails)
4. Kir Royale: A French cocktail made with crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) topped with Champagne.
5. Dry Vermouth on the Rocks: Served with a twist of lemon or olive, it’s a simple yet elegant aperitif. (More Vermouth Cocktails)
6. Americano: Made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and club soda, it’s a lighter alternative to the Negroni.
7. Gin and Tonic: A refreshing and simple mix of gin and tonic water, often garnished with lime or cucumber. (More Gin Cocktails)
8. Daiquiri: A classic Cuban cocktail with rum, lime juice, and sugar. (More Rum Cocktails)
9. French 75: A cocktail made with gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar.
10. Old Fashioned: While typically considered more of a digestif, its simplicity and bittersweet profile can also make it a suitable aperitif.

FAQs

1. Can I make a non-alcoholic Spritz? Yes, replace the alcoholic components with non-alcoholic sparkling wine and a bitter, non-alcoholic aperitif.
2. What’s the best glass to serve a Spritz in? A Spritz is traditionally served in a large wine glass or a rocks glass.
3. What food pairs well with a Spritz? Spritzes pair well with light appetizers, such as olives, cheese, cured meats, and seafood.
4. 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: Limoncello Spritz Recipe (and 31 More!)

Enjoy making the Limoncello Spritz recipe. This cocktail is straightforward and bubbly, perfect for effortless enjoyment.