Over the last few years, it feels as though Aperol spritz has become the drink of the summer. It’s inescapable and a fixture on the menu in every cocktail bar.
This bubbly aperitif makes you feel as though you’re sitting on a warm terrace in Italy looking over the sea, evoking memories of relaxing getaways in the Mediterranean.
Aperol has been growing in popularity over the last five years in both the UK and the US and shows no signs of losing its sparkle any time soon.
Fans of the drink have even come up with Aperol-inspired makeup looks designed to give you a warm summer glow.
The spritz has won many celebrity followers, include Madonna, Katy Perry, Zendaya and Halle Berry.
English food writer Nigella Lawson is definitely not a fan. She sparked outrage on social media in 2019 when she compared it to the bright orange soft drink Tizer. She said she preferred to drink Campari instead.
But where did Aperol come from and why is it suddenly everywhere?
The history behind your favourite summer drink
While Aperol’s surge in popularity has been a very recent phenomenon, the drink has a long history. It was created in Padua in 1919 by the Barbieri brothers, Luigi and Silvio, who experimented for seven years to come up with the perfect recipe.
After World War One, it was consumed in cafes across Italy as an aperitif (pre-dinner drink). However, the Aperol spritz recipe that we all know and love wasn’t created until the 1950s!
According to a BBC feature, Aperol was once seen as a drink for “old salts and drunks” and students on a tight budget – a far cry from the glamorous tipple we know today.
Aperol’s fortunes really changed when they were taken over by Campari in 2003. Aperol was initially a drink associated with Venice, but Campari took the decision to market Aperol in Milan – with a few crucial changes.
They changed how the drink was served, switching heavy tumblers for balloon-shaped glasses that showcased Aperol’s warm orange colour. They also stopped garnishing the drink with olives, preferring a simple slice of orange instead.
These small changes helped to win over an international market and saw the drink become a firm summer favourite.
How to make an Aperol spritz
It couldn’t be easier to make an Aperol spritz! Simple combine 3 parts of prosecco, with two parts of Aperol and add a dash of soda. Finish your cocktail with a slice of orange and enjoy!
Don’t forget to add ice to keep your drink cool as the temperatures climb.
If you want to make sure your Aperol spritz is the perfect shade, Aperol has released a colour chart so you can check you’ve made it correctly!
Bored of Aperol? Here are some refreshing alternatives
Fancy trying something new? If you want to expand your palate without losing the Mediterranean vibe, there are a few other options that you might like.
The Hugo
The Hugo was invented in South Tyrol in the Italian Alps in 2005. According to Google Trends data, summer 2023 saw the Hugo hit bars across the UK and US and its popularity continues to rise.
So what is the Hugo and why is it so delicious? The Hugo is a summery spritz which is made with a prosecco base and flavoured with elderflower cordial, topped up with soda to create a refreshing drink.
Serve it with ice, a few mint sprigs and a slice of lime for a cooling long drink.
Negroni sbagliato
Sbagliato means mistake in Italian, but we promise that you won’t regret ordering one. The Negroni spagliato is made with equal parts red vermouth (a sweet-tasting fortified wine) and Campari, which is finished with Prosecco. If you like, you can add soda to make a long drink.
It’s a bitter-sweet tasting drink that can be served over ice with a fresh orange slice.
The Negroni sbagliato went viral last year when House of Dragons star Emma D’Arcy named it as their favourite drink in a TikTok video interview.
Limoncello spritz
This zesty drink tastes like pure sunshine! If you’ve visited the Amalfi coast, you’ll almost certainly have tasted this quintessentially Italian recipe.
The Amalfi coast is known for its unique lemon varieties, which are sweeter than the ones that you’ll pick up in the supermarket. Some of them are believed to have been grown in Roman times.
Limoncello is a vibrant yellow liqueur that’s produced in Southern Italy, mostly around the Gulf of Naples, Sorrento and Sicily.
A limoncello spritz is made using limoncello, prosecco and soda to create a light aperitif that’s best enjoyed before a meal (pasta, of course!).
You can find limoncello in most supermarkets or you can have a go at making it home.
Campari spritz
If you find the taste of an Aperol spritz too sweet, why not opt for a Campari spritz instead? This rich red drink comes together with just three ingredients: Campari, dry prosecco and soda.
A Campari spritz is similar to an Aperol spritz but has a more bitter flavour. Perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a sweet tooth!
Like its sweeter sister, a Campari spritz is best finished with fresh orange slices and a few cubes of ice.
Summer spritz recipes
These refreshing summer coolers are perfect for warm afternoons and long, balmy evenings.
St-Germain spritz
Serves 1
Ingredients
- Ice
- 40ml St-Germain elderflower liqueur
- 60ml Martini Brut Prosecco
- 60ml sparkling water
- lemon
- edible flowers (optional)
Method
- Pour the St-Germain over ice into your glass.
- Top with Prosecco and sparkling water. Give the drink a good stir.
- Gently twist a lemon peel on top of your drink, then add edible flowers, if using.
Apple and rose spritz
Serves 1
Ingredients
- Ice
- 25ml Lanique Spirit of Rose liqueur
- 125ml Sassy Cidre (or other semi-dry cider)
- sliced apple, to garnish
Method
- Add a few cubes of ice to a large wine glass then pour in 25ml of Lanique Spirit of Rose liqueur.
- Top up with cider and stir gently to muddle.
- Add thin slices of apple, to garnish.
Rosé and grapefruit spritz (alcohol free)
Serves 1
Ingredients
- 30ml pink grapefruit juice (fresh or carton)
- 15ml lemon juice
- ice
- 15ml elderflower cordial
- 75ml Eisberg Alcohol-Free Rosé
- 100ml soda water
- pink grapefruit wedges, to garnish
Method
- If using fresh fruit, squeeze the grapefruit and lemon.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 30ml pink grapefruit juice, 15ml lemon juice, the elderflower cordial and Eisberg Alcohol-Free Rosé.
- Shake well, then strain into a tall glass over ice and top up with soda water.
- Cut a grapefruit into small wedges and add a couple to the drink, to garnish.
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