Happy Friday Everyone!  To start off this scorcher of a weekend on the right foot, you NEED to try the Aperol Spritz.  This is one of my favorite summer-time cocktails and it is a total breeze to throw together.  I only recently discovered Aperol at the beginning of this year and have become slightly obsessed with this lovely Italian aperitif.

friday cocktails

Rob has called Aperol “Campari’s nicer younger sister” and I couldn’t agree more!  It shares many of the same characteristics of Campari, such as a bitter orange flavor and subtle herbaceous notes.  The difference is that the bitterness is tempered significantly, which allows you to get a lot more sweetness on the palate even though they both contain the same amount of sugar.  Aperol also has less than half the alcohol content of Campari, which makes it a perfect candidate for daytime summer cocktails by the pool (or wherever…)!

Aperol-Bottle
Aperol……..yummy…….

The Aperol Spritz has become known as Italy’s “Favorite Cocktail” over the years.  Orignially created in 1919 in Padova by the Barbieri brothers, Aperol didn’t truly take off in popularity until after World War II when they launched their first TV commercial.  The Campari Group purchased Aperol in 2003 and started their big international advertising push featuring the “3-2-1 campaign” (the proportions for making the Aperol Spritz) and we now see the bright orange liquor popping up everywhere!

So trust me on this one, grab a bottle of Aperol, a bottle of bubbly (preferably prosecco to keep with the Italian heritage, but any inexpensive bubbly will do), and an ice filled wine glass.  Then go lounge around on your deck outside while imagining the rolling Tuscan hillside in front of you as you live out the dream of a romantic Italian getaway from your backyard.

Aperol Spritz

Aperol Spritz

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Aperol
  • 3 ounces sparkling wine (preferably Prosecco)
  • 1 ounce club soda
  • Garnish: orange slice
  • Glass: Ice filled wine goblet

Instructions

  1. Fill a large wine glass with ice cubes
  2. Pour in Aperol
  3. Pop open bottle of bubbly (don't hit anyone in the face!) and pour 3 ounces into your glass
  4. Add one ounce of club soda, gently stir, and garnish with orange slice
  5. Sip, sigh, and begin imagining your dream Italian getaway as you feel so very worldly while drinking Italy's favorite cocktail...
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https://mixedandmashed.com/aperol-spritz/