My personal introduction to the Spritz took place while visiting Venice approximately 30 years ago and it was far from being the popular international drink it is today. I noticed spritzes were being ordered as an aperitivo by locals and were actually quite cheap – usually a foreign word in Venice but if you stay off of the beaten path there are quite a few bars & restaurants to be found, which are popular with locals.
It seems now as if the spritz is available in pretty much any type restaurant or bar across the globe and patios are filled with the colourful orange-red fish bowls. The spritz is easy to make, refreshing and fairly inexpensive: the perfect party starter.
Just as with any cocktail, the recipe a.k.a. ratio of ingredients is very important for balance. And when it comes to a Spritz, the ratio could not be easier: 3-2-1!
The first ingredient is sparkling wine – 3 parts. Considering it’s going to be mixed, I don’t bother using fine bubbles. It doesn’t have to be the cheapest available but spending anywhere over 8 to 10 bucks for a bottle of sparkling to use as a mix along with Bitter is redundant, in my humble opinion. Whether it be prosecco, crémant, sekt or cava, as long as the wine is dry and extra fizzy (bone-dry if using a bitter with light sweetness to it), it’s good in my books. There are many bitters out there, it pays to try less-known brands rather than the usual suspects. By the way, bitter makes up 2 parts with soda water making up 1 part of the mix.
If you want a lighter drink, you can use alcohol-free sparkling wine. Today there are also a multitude of non-alcoholic bitter mixes available as well if 100% alc-free is more to your liking, Crodino or San Bitter being the most common.
3-2-1 is a general rule. Feel free to adjust the proportions of the ingredients according to your taste. Some people prefer a slightly stronger or weaker spritz, so you can experiment with the ratios to find the perfect balance for your palate. Additionally, you can garnish the spritz with a green olive or a sprig of fresh mint for added flavour and presentation.
Cheers.
Ingredients
- Ice cubes
- 3 parts sparkling wine
- 2 parts bitter
- 1 part soda water
- Orange wedge & straw are optional
Directions
- Grab the closest voluminous glass
- Pop in some ice cubes
- Pour in your sparkling wine (3 parts, circa 90ml or 3 ounces)
- Add your bitter (2 parts, circa 60ml or 2 ounces)
- Last but not least, soda water (1 part, circa 30ml or 1 ounce)
- Drink, repeat
