Category: Drinks

Aperol Spritz

A bubbly, refreshing cocktail, the Aperol Spritz is a new favorite for enjoying on a warm afternoon or evening.

A bubbly, refreshing cocktail, the Aperol Spritz is a new favorite for enjoying on a warm afternoon or evening.

Have you ever had an Aperol Spritz? Or Aperol on its own or in another cocktail? 

I hadn’t until last spring. I had met up with three of my cousins in Nashville for a fun girls weekend – a weekend of catching up, of exploring a new city, and of eating and drinking lots of amazing food and drink. (One of these days, I’ll get around to actually creating a travel post in a timely manner…)

That first afternoon in Nashville, after hours of walking, my cousin, a fellow foodie, and I popped into a bar to wait for others to arrive and give our tired feet a break. There, she introduced me to the Aperol Spritz.

A bubbly, refreshing cocktail, the Aperol Spritz is a new favorite for enjoying on a warm afternoon or evening.

It was light and refreshing. It was bubbly. It was just what I needed that day… and since then, I’ve been itching to buy myself a bottle of Aperol to make this cocktail at home. I only wish I hadn’t waited so long to do so.

An Aperol Spritz is crazy easy, and just 4 ingredients. 

  1. Aperol: an Italian orange aperitif. It’s got a bittersweet flavor that keeps this cocktail from being too sweet
  2. Prosecco: use dry (brut) prosecco
  3. Club Soda: just a splash
  4. An orange slice or wedge: an optional garnish

And the best part is? No cocktail shaker, no stirring – the bubbles do the mixing for you. Just fill a glass with ice and add the ingredients and voila! A refreshing cocktail that takes just minutes to make.

A bubbly, refreshing cocktail, the Aperol Spritz is a new favorite for enjoying on a warm afternoon or evening.

Recipe Notes:

  • You don’t really need a recipe to make this. The general rule of thumb for the cocktail is equal parts Aperol and prosecco, splash of club soda, garnish. Your “equal parts” might be a bit more or less than the below based on the size of your glass.
  • If the cocktail is too sweet for you, decrease the amount of Aperol and increase the amount of prosecco until you’re happy. 
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Aperol Spritz

A bubbly, refreshing cocktail, the Aperol Spritz is a new favorite for enjoying on a warm afternoon or evening.

Course Drinks
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 Cocktail
Calories 205 kcal
Author Liz

Ingredients

  • ice
  • 3 oz. Aperol
  • 3 oz. dry Prosecco
  • 1/2-1 oz. club soda really just a splash
  • orange slice or wedge for garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. Fill a wine or highball glass with ice, almost to the top. Add Aperol and Prosecco. Finish with a splash of club soda and garnish with orange. Enjoy.

By Books n’ Cooks

A bubbly, refreshing cocktail, the Aperol Spritz is a new favorite for enjoying on a warm afternoon or evening.

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The Classic Cosmo

A perfectly balanced cocktail of cranberry juice, a splash of lime, vodka and orange liquor, the Classic Cosmo is one of my favorite ways to celebrate an evening with the girls.

A perfectly balanced cocktail of cranberry juice, a splash of lime, vodka and orange liquor, the Classic Cosmo is one of my favorite ways to celebrate an evening with the girls.

My mom and I have a tradition. Every time we see each other, we have Cosmos, or Cosmopolitans. No matter whose house we are at, I’m the barista – despite the simple recipe, Mom hasn’t always had the best luck, but she’s getting better! Besides, it’s always good for a daughter to cater to her mother every once and a while. šŸ˜‰

So before Mom comes to visit, I check the bar and make sure I have enough ingredients. The extended family coming? I buy fresh bottles of everything, because some how, I spend the weekend making Cosmos for all of the women in my family. But you know what? I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way.

A perfectly balanced cocktail of cranberry juice, a splash of lime, vodka and orange liquor, the Classic Cosmo is one of my favorite ways to celebrate an evening with the girls.

I’ve been making the same Classic Cosmo for so many years that I don’t even need a recipe any more. It’s actually surprising that I haven’t shared this recipe before, given that I’ve shared other recipes that are a twist on this one (Champagne Cosmos for Christmas and New Years Brunch, Smirnoff Ice Cosmos, Pomegranate Cosmos…). So yeah, I suppose it’s about time I shared this one with you.

Like any good cocktail, there’s a simple formula to learn – and then it’s a piece of cake. Ready?

2:1:1

Two parts cranberry juice, one part high quality vodka, one part orange liquor (the higher quality, the better). And then a splash of lime juice, which you could omit if you’re out. That’s it. Easy right?

A perfectly balanced cocktail of cranberry juice, a splash of lime, vodka and orange liquor, the Classic Cosmo is one of my favorite ways to celebrate an evening with the girls.

But really, this is a forgiving cocktail and I encourageĀ  you to experiment a bit and adjust to your taste.

  • Ratio: I like the above ratio because it’s a bit sweeter, but I know that a lot of people use a 1:1:1 ration – and that’s just too strong for me.
  • The Juice: I’ve used various cranberry juices / juice cocktails before and all come out well. My preference is actually pure, unsweetened cranberry juice, which is not quite as sweet as the cranberry juice cocktail that is pictured above. But not going to lie, I like having those little bottles aroundĀ  when I’m not entertaining and want to indulge in a drink myself. Ditto the lime juice – fresh is best, but I’m not opposed to using a little squirt of the bottled or skipping it all together if I don’t have any in the house.
  • The Liquor: Here’s where I’m a bit of a snob – you can use any high quality vodka, but I almost always use Gray Goose. Where I will switch things up a bit is the orange liquor. Grand Marnier is my go-to, but if I have Cointreau or even Triple Sec in the house, I’ll use those too.

A perfectly balanced cocktail of cranberry juice, a splash of lime, vodka and orange liquor, the Classic Cosmo is one of my favorite ways to celebrate an evening with the girls.

And because today happens to be National Martini Day, my blogging friends and I have a few more Martini recipes to share with you – some more traditional and some more fun and unique. Check them out:

 

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A perfectly balanced cocktail of cranberry juice, a splash of lime, vodka and orange liquor, the Classic Cosmo is one of my favorite ways to celebrate an evening with the girls.

The Classic Cosmo

A perfectly balanced cocktail of cranberry juice, a splash of lime, vodka and orange liquor, the Classic Cosmo is one of my favorite ways to celebrate an evening with the girls.

Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1
Calories 260 kcal
Author Liz

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz. good quality vodka
  • 1 1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
  • 3 oz. cranberry juice
  • splash of lime juice
  • lime wedges or slices, for garnish optional

Instructions

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add vodka, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice, and lime juice. Shake well for 10 seconds, until cocktail is chilled. Pour, straining out the ice, into martini glass. Serve immediately.

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