Upgrade Your Summer With These Five Spritz Cocktail Recipes

There’s no better way to welcome back warmer weather than with a refreshing spritz cocktail. From bitter to sweet and everything in between, this list has every palate covered. If you're craving the tastes of the Italian countryside and are yearning to craft your perfect Mamma Mia summer, these spritz cocktail recipes will make you feel like you're a true world traveler. So, grab some glasses, pop that Prosecco, and get ready to say "cheers!" Don't forget to slice up your citrus and grab your mint for some delightful garnishes, too. 

#SpoonTip: Drinking can be fun, but be responsible. Spoon does not promote binge or underage drinking. Stay safe!

1. Aperol Spritz 

Ah, the classic Aperol spritz. It's beyond easy to make, so you really can’t go wrong. With its simple, light, and subtly sweet flavor profile, you'll be left feeling pleasantly buzzed without that too-much-too-soon cocktail fear factor. After all, it is an aperitif. Aperitifs are types of liquor that are meant to be sipped before a meal to stimulate appetite without making you too sugared up or altering your taste buds too much to enjoy your meal to the fullest. Aperol spritzes are ideal for a first drink before your full entree. 

Ingredients:

Aperol

Prosecco

Club Soda

Fresh Orange Slices

Recipe:

1. Fill glass halfway with ice.

2. Pour equal parts Aperol, Prosecco, and Club Soda into the glasses.

3. Give it a quick stir.

4. Garnish with an orange slice.

5. Enjoy!

Bonus:

Part of the magic of such an easy drink is that you can easily alter it to your taste, so if you’re not a fan of the bitter taste of Aperol, cut it back slightly and replace it with Prosecco.

Pair With:

Salty or creamy appetizers pair perfectly with the bitter elements of this drink, so a cheese board is the ideal tasty sidekick. 

2. Hugo Spritz

This spritz cocktail is a personal favorite of mine since I’m a huge fan of floral flavors, but if you’ve never had elderflower before, don’t be afraid. It’s the perfect balance of light, refreshing, and sweet. The Hugo spritz goes by many names, such as “St. Germain spritz” or “Elderflower spritz,” but regardless of what you want to call it, it’s beyond delicious. Like the Aperol spritz, it’s very easy to make. 

Ingredients:

St. Germain

Prosecco

Club Soda

Mint

Lime

Recipe:

1. Fill glass with ice.

2. Add one or two lime slices, to taste.

3. For best taste, roll washed mint in between your palms, rip into smaller pieces, and drop into glasses. About four to six leaves per glass will do.

4. Pour in about two tablespoons of St. Germain.

5. Top off with equal parts Prosecco and Club Soda.

6. Stir and enjoy!

Bonus:

St. Germain is the most popular of the elderflower liqueurs, but any brand will do… especially since they are generally less expensive. Sparkling rosé is an excellent way to spice up a spritz cocktail if you’re a rosé fan.

Pair With:

Since it’s so light and refreshing, but still has that sweeter undertone, it pairs well with almost any brunch dish.

3. Campari Spritz 

Where the Hugo spritz is the sweeter cousin of the Aperol spritz, the Campari spritz is its more bitter counterpart. If you’re unfamiliar with Campari, it’s a bitter, red-colored liqueur and is often used to make the famous Negroni cocktail. Bubbly and bold, this cocktail will leave you refreshed and ready for more. What's more, there’s less risk of finishing the drink too quickly, as the bitter elements of the drink tend to slow drinkers down to sippers. Be that as it may, don't be afraid to try it, as the bubbly elements of the drink brighten it up enough to be enjoyable for many palates.

Campari

Prosecco

Club Soda

Orange Slice

Recipe:

1. Fill glass with ice.

2. Fill glass with one part Campari, two parts Club Soda, and three parts Prosecco.

3. Give it a stir.

4. Garnish with an orange slice.

5. Enjoy!

Bonus:

If you’re not a big fan of oranges, any citrus fruit will do as a substitute.

Pair With:

Like the Aperol spritz, the Campari spritz pairs excellently with cheese or charcuterie boards. 

4. Cassis Spritz 

The odds that you’ve heard of the Cassis spritz are slim, but after you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder how you’ve lived so long without one. Cassis is a blackcurrant flavor, but while that may sound rather intimidating to American readers since blackcurrant— just like elderflower— is a rather uncommon flavor to come across, it really is very similar to a blackberry. The cassis brings a fruity, lightly sweet, and mildly tart flavor to the table that will leave you with an empty glass quicker than you thought possible.

Ingredients:

Crème de Cassis

Prosecco

Club Soda

Blackberries

Recipe:

1. Fill glass with ice.

2. Pour one part Crème de Cassis, two parts Club Soda, and three parts Prosecco into the glass.

3. Give it a stir.

4. Garnish with blackberries.

5. Enjoy!

While this cocktail is called the Cassis Spritz, any type of blackcurrant syrup will work just as well.

Pair With:

Any kind of hors d'oeuvres of your choosing, but seafood and fish dishes are particularly tasty for Cassis Spritz.

5. Ginger Spritz

If you’re a fan of Moscow mules, then the ginger spritz is perfect for you. It still has that iconic spicy, ginger bite, but in the typical spritz fashion, it’s lightened up to be the perfect refreshing afternoon or pre-meal cocktail. I personally cannot get enough, especially since this drink straddles the line between an aperitif and a regular cocktail since it is often upgraded with a shot of vodka or gin.

Ingredients:

Ginger Syrup

Lime

Lime Juice

Prosecco

Club Soda

Mint

Recipe:

1. Fill glass with ice.

2. For best taste, roll washed mint in between your palms, rip into smaller pieces, and drop into glasses. About four to six leaves per glass will do.

3. Pour about two tablespoons of Ginger Syrup into glass.

4. Add a splash of lime juice, to taste.

5. Pour in one part Club Soda, and three parts Prosecco.

6. Garnish with a lime slice.

7. Stir and enjoy!

Bonus:

I found ginger syrup on Amazon, but most liquor stores should carry it, as well. 

If you are making this drink on short notice, then pick up some ginger at your local grocery store, wash and chop it, and add it to a cocktail shaker. Then, muddle it with the mint leaves and add both the lime juice and simple syrup.

Simple syrup can also be made easily from home by bringing a pot of equal parts water and sugar to a boil before allowing it to cool before use

To Make Boozier:

Add one shot of vodka or gin after ginger syrup and reduce Prosecco to two parts.

Pair With:

Since this cocktail is slightly on the spicier side, any sort of bread-oriented appetizer, such as bruschetta or crostini will pair well with such a unique drink.