It’s unlikely you’ve let any warm seasons pass by without sampling an Aperol Spritz. The bubbly orange cocktail has had a ubiquitous presence on the bar and restaurant menus, at backyard parties, and more.

But the Spritz as a category encompasses so much more than the omnipresent orange cocktail. Its definition has morphed as it’s moved out of its home country of Italy.

In its most classic form, the Spritz is an aperitivo cocktail made with a bitter liqueur, prosecco and a splash of sparkling water. These days, one of those components might be changed (for instance, using a sweet liqueur rather than bitter, or a still wine rather than sparkling) or omitted entirely. Additional ingredients or flavours are commonly added. The possibilities are infinite.

The takeaway is, you can feel free to throw all the old rules out the window. If the drink is bubbly and appropriate for late-afternoon imbibing, it’s fair to call it a Spritz.
These are our favourites.

BICICLETTA

Ingredients
90ml dry white wine (such as pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc)
60ml Campari
Club soda, chilled, to top
Ice
Garnish: 2 orange wheels

Steps
-Add the white wine and Campari into a double rocks glass or a wine glass.
-Fill the glass three-quarters with ice, top with club soda, and stir gently and briefly to combine.
-Garnish with 2 orange wheels.

CHANNEL ORANGE

Ingredients
20ml Negroni Aperitivo Sixteen
15ml Amara Sicilian blood orange liqueur
7ml Granada-Vallet pomegranate liqueur
30ml grapefruit soda
90ml prosecco
Ice
Garnish: grapefruit twist

Steps
-Add all ingredients into a wine glass filled with ice and stir briefly to combine.
-Garnish with a grapefruit twist.

NEGRONI SBAGLIATO

Ingredients
750ml sweet vermouth
750 ml Campari
1 cup assorted seasonal fruit
750ml prosecco
Large ice cubes or a large ice block
Garnish: grated cinnamon

Steps
-Add the vermouth and liqueur to a punch bowl and add large ice cubes or a large ice block.
-Add the fruit and top with the prosecco.
-Stir gently and garnish with freshly grated cinnamon.

-Liquor.com