Perfect Aperol Spritz

This classic Aperol Spritz recipe is light, refreshing, and bubbly! We first tried this classic Italian cocktail in Venice and have loved them ever since.

After trying my first Aperol Spritz in Italy several years ago, I immediately started browsing recipes to recreate it at home. This light and bubbly cocktail, made with Prosecco, Aperol, and soda water, is often served as an apéritif and enjoyed before a meal to stimulate the appetite. Also popular is the Campari Spritz, which is a bit bolder.

This cocktail is perfect for warm weather and summertime sipping. Enjoy one before dinner, or pair it with lighter dishes like antipasto, bruschetta, shrimp scampi, olives, slices of focaccia, and Caprese salad.

Key Ingredients

• Aperol: Look for Aperol next to liqueurs and bitters, like Amaro. It is a vibrant reddish-orange liqueur that tastes citrusy, herbal, and bittersweet. If you love bolder, more bittersweet cocktails, try our Campari Spritz, which uses the same ratio, but swaps Aperol for Campari.
• Prosecco: Look for Prosecco next to sparkling wines. This Italian sparkling wine tastes light, crisp, and fruity. Look for Brut on the label, which means the Prosecco is not sweet. Avoid sweeter styles of Prosecco, like Prosecco Dolce, which will make your Aperol Spritz too sweet. I look for mid-range bottles of Prosecco (just as I do when buying sparkling wine for mimosas). Small-batch producers or bottles with labels mentioning DOC or DOCG are usually more tasty and enjoyable if you can find them. If you have a local wine shop, ask the staff for guidance and their suggestions.
• Soda water: Plain soda water works nicely. You can also use club soda with minerals and salt added (I prefer this for flavor) or your favorite sparkling water brand.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

How to Make the Best Aperol Spritz

Tip 1: The classic Aperol Spritz ratio is 3-2-1, which means you will need 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol, and 1 part soda water. With this ratio, your cocktail is flavorful, not too bitter, and not too sweet.

Tip 2: Adjust for bitterness preference. Aperol tastes a little bitter. If you want a less bitter drink, reduce the Aperol and increase the Prosecco. A ratio of 4 parts Prosecco, 1 part Aperol, and 1 part soda water is a good starting point. If, on the other hand, you enjoy a bolder, more bitter flavor, consider making a Campari Spritz. Campari is significantly more intense and bitter than Aperol (Adam prefers this to the Aperol Spritz).

Tip 3: Make a lower-alcohol spritz. If you are looking for a refreshing, lower alcohol cocktail, you can increase the amount of soda water. A good starting point is a ratio of 2 parts Prosecco, 1 part Aperol, and 2 parts soda water.