Aperol Spritz Recipe 3 2 1

When the weather turns warm, there's no better aperitif than an Aperol Spritz. This easy recipe is nothing more than a 3 2 1 ratio and an orange slice. Cin cin!

Why we love this recipe

I’ve never been much of a day drinker. Sometimes I think it’s because I’m a busy, functioning adult. But sometimes I think it’s because crappy beer is too crappy and Pimm’s Cups are too sweet. The Aperol Spritz, on the other hand, is juuuuuust right.

I'm always amazed at the way the first sip of a Spritz transports me to a summer afternoon, sitting at a cafe table in a Venetian piazza, feeling the slightest bit tipsy and watching beautiful people go by.

This classic cocktail is:

• Light and bubbly
• A little bit sweet, a little bit bitter, a little bit fruity, and a little bit herbal
• Relatively low in alcohol and thus eminently sippable
• Just a lovely, relaxing, civilized little ritual that I can't recommend enough

I first published this recipe here (long overdue even then) in 2016. I've since updated the post for clarity, but the classic recipe remains very much the same.

What you'll need

Here's a glance at the ingredients you'll need to make an Aperol Spritz recipe 3 2 1.

• Start with three parts Prosecco or other dry sparkling wine that you'd be happy to drink on its own. It doesn't have to be super-pricey, but it should be good quality. We tend to keep a couple bottles of our "house bubbly" (yeah, I know) Chandon Brut in the fridge all the time, so I typically use that, even though it's from California and not Italy.
• Next up, two parts Aperol. This slightly sweet and fruity, gently bitter Italian apéritif is made with oranges, rhubarb, herbs, and some top-secret ingredients. It's been around since 1919 and has a gorgeous orange color. "Aperol" comes "apero," the French slang word for apéritif.
• Top it off with one part soda water. You can use seltzer, club soda, sparkling water — whatever you prefer. If we have a complementary flavored sparkling water in the house, like tangerine or grapefruit I'll sometimes use that for an easy, subtle twist.
• Beyond that, all you need is plenty of ice and a thin orange slice to garnish.

How to make it

Here's an overview of what you'll do to make an Aperol Spritz recipe 3 2 1 — you don't even need a mixing glass or a cocktail shaker. You can see the steps in action in the video that accompanies this post, and get all the details in the recipe card below.

1. Fill a large wine glass (or any other glass you like) halfway with ice. Pour in three parts Prosecco.
2. Add two parts Aperol.
3. Pour in one part soda water.
4. Garnish with an orange slice. That's it!

Expert tips and FAQs

Love bubbly warm-weather cocktails?

So do I! Try some of my other favorites:

• Hugo Spritz
• The Grape Gatsby
• French 75
• Sour Cherry French 75

Continue to Content

Yield: 1

Aperol Spritz Recipe 3 2 1

Print

This light and refreshing aperitif is one of my very favorites, and I was happy to see it make a resurgence in the U.S. a little while ago. The Aperol spritz brings the essence of Italy right to your porch.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• Plenty of ice
• 3 ounces (or 3 parts) Prosecco
• 2 ounces (or 2 parts) Aperol
• 1 ounce (or 1 part) soda water

Instructions

1. Fill a large wine glass (or a pint-sized mason jar, or whatever glass you like) halfway with ice.
2. Pour in the Prosecco and then the Aperol. Top with soda water. Garnish with an orange slice if you like.

Notes

1. Though Prosecco is traditional, you can feel free to use another dry sparkling wine that you'd be happy to drink on its own. It doesn't have to be super-pricey, but it should be good quality. We tend to keep a couple bottles of our "house bubbly" (yeah, I know) Chandon Brut in the fridge all the time, so I typically use that, even though it's from California and not Italy.
2. You can use seltzer, club soda, sparkling water — whatever you prefer. If we have a complementary flavored sparkling water in the house, like tangerine or grapefruit I'll sometimes use that for an easy, subtle twist.
3. It's so easy to make individual Aperol spritzes that I don't usually bother to batch them, but you can if you like. Up to a few hours before serving time, you can pour two cups of Aperol into a pitcher and stash it in the fridge. (If you like, slice an orange and add the slices to the pitcher too. Just before serving, pour in one bottle of Prosecco and one cup soda water and add a few cups of ice. To serve, fill large wine glasses halfway with ice and slip a fresh orange slice into each. Pour the spritz generously and enjoy with friends.

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 130

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