If you’ve been to Italy, you’ve no doubt seen folks sitting on the piazza having a cocktail before dinner. I can almost guarantee you that cocktail isn’t a scotch on the rocks or a martini. Italy is the land of the aperitivo, or aperitif—a pre-dinner cocktail that’s usually light on alcohol and refreshing. The aperitivo is meant to stimulate the appetite but not weigh down the palate, or get you too smashed. How civilized!
My favorite aperitivo is an Aperol Spritz, a combination of sparkling wine with a splash of Aperol (a bitter liquer) and club soda, usually garnished with an orange.
The official Aperol Spritz recipe calls for 3 parts prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and a splash of club soda. I change a few things about the recipe:
Cheers to summer and feeling like we’re all sitting on an Italian Piazza.
Aperol Spritz
Sparkling wine such as Prosecco
1 shot Aperol
1 glug club soda
1 slice orange
Fill a tumbler or large wine glass with ice. Fill the glass 2/3 full with sparkling wine. Add the shot of Aperol. Top with club soda, stir well, then add the orange slice.
