Well, I wasn’t much of an Aperol drinker, let alone, a cocktail drinker, till I got to Italy. This classic Italian aperitivo, the new signature summer drink, has recently become really popular in the states but it’s been a traditional cocktail for many years.
Some say it’s used to “whet your appetite” and prepare yourself for dinner time. Others drink it for brunch or as a breakfast substitute. I know I have, guilty! History has it, that back in the days, the original spritz used to be white wine with a splash of sparking water to avoid getting so drunk at bars. The word ‘spritz’ is actually a term for a type of cocktail, stemming from the German word spritzen, meaning ‘to spray’ or ‘to splash’. It reaches back to the beginnings of the 19th century, during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s then-ownership of Italy’s Veneto region! Anyway, regardlessof its purpose or origin, we sure love our Aperol Spritz. So let’s continue…
Here is the “original” recipe for The Aperol Spritz:
- 3 ounces of Aperol
- 3 ounces of Prosecco
- a splash of soda (I like to use sparkling water instead)
- an orange wedge
- ice
Begin by pouring the ice over a large balloon glass or a large wine glass. Then the Aperol, the prosecco, the splash of soda and throw in our orange wedge. Stir together and enjoy!
Easy right? Enjoy, close your eyes and pretend you’re somewhere in Italy.
Fun fact: Aperol has officially made it into the Oxford English Dictionary, described as “A proprietary name for: an orange-coloured Italian aperitif flavoured with gentian, rhubarb, and a variety of herbs and roots.”
With love always,
Angela