My first encounter with Aperol Spritz
The first time I put an Aperol Spritz to my lips was in Dresden (Germany) a few years back. Our lovely hotel had a bar downstairs offering two-for-one deal on these cocktails during happy hour. We paid 5 Euros (around $7.50) for two drinks. Drinks in Europe are generally less expensive than here in Australia, unless you’re in Switzerland (where alcohol prices are on par to here). Needless to say, we got to know this cocktail rather well during our stay in Dresden.
Aperol Spritz cocktails generally go for around $16 (!!!) here in Australia. Buy a bottle of Aperol from Dan Murphy’s for $22 and impress your friends when they come for a summer bbq. It’s really easy to make – check out the recipe below.
Aperol Spritz Takes Australia
It was surprising as to how long it took for the Aperol Spritz to hit Australia. Last summer was when I first noticed this orange liqueur cocktail making an appearance at social events. The Aperol Spritz had a huge presence at the Australian Open this year. Since then, it’s become so hugely popular that it’s even sold out from my local Dan Murphy’s store!
All those I’ve introduced to the Aperol Spritz have loved it. It’s such a refreshing summer drink, blending my beloved prosecco with an orange liqueur and some soda, garnished with a slice of orange. My other half thinks it’s too girly. If you head up the the Rooftop at QT this summer, you’ll find that lots of men are sipping on this cocktail out on the deck. There’s a designated bar which only serves Aperol Spritz there!
The Aperol Story
The Aperol originated from a town in Italy called Padua back in 1919. It was created by the Barberi brothers, Luigi and Silvio, after inheriting a liqueur company from their father in 1912. We have actually stopped in Padua for an overnight stay on our last trip through Italy. Pity we weren’t introduced with the Aperol Spritz there! Would be a cool story to tell. It’s a low alcoholic drink with a sweet, bitter, citrus taste. The marketing campaign was originally targeted at women and at those who were watching their figures. Not sure if that marketing ploy worked as I’m sure it’s still a rather sweet drink! Regardless, it was well liked.
The adding of the spritz to the Aperol wasn’t until the 1950’s, making it more marketable to the rest of the world. The first Aperol TV commercial was launched around that time. Huge success for this cocktail didn’t come until the 2000’s and has been going strong until now. The pre-bottled version was also made available with only 8% alcohol. All you have to do is add it to ice and garnish with a slice of orange. The make-it-yourself version is always going to remain most ideal. Personally, I like a generous amount of Aperol in my Aperol Spritz so I’ll always opt to make it myself.
Aperol Spritz Fun Fact:
Over 2,600 people gathered in Venice on the 29th of June 2012 to help successfully secure the title of ‘Largest Aperol Spritz Toast’ in the Guinness World Record.
How to Make an Aperol Spritz
Aperol Spritz is super easy to make so it’s not hard to mix the perfect summer drink for your guests. Use a large, clear wine glass (the stemless glasses are popular to use) and add the mandatory slice of orange with a sprig of mint or some pomegranate seeds for extra flare. Once, I dropped a tropical Frosty Fruit into them and it was delicious! Try your own variations. The orange is a vibrant colour which lights up your toasts and adds joy to the moment.
Serve Aperol Spritz with delicious appetisers and small dishes such as plates of olives, baby octopus, sandwhiches. Enjoy it at a bbq or during relaxed brunches on the weekend. Use it to toast a special occasion or just for winding down after a hard day.
Aperol Spritz Recipe (also known as the 3-2-1 recipe)
Add the ingredients in this order so that the Aperol doesn’t sink to the bottom. Some will add the Aperol first and stir it all around at the end.
- 3 parts Prosecco (choose a decent Prosecco, but it doesn’t need to be an expensive one)
- 2 parts Aperol
- 1 part soda water
- Ice
- Slice of orange
Method – How to make an Aperol Spritz:
Preparation Time: 5 min
- Fill the wine glass with ice.
- Half fill the glass with Prosecco
- Pour the Aperol half way up the remaining half of the glass (do so in a circular motion)
- Add a splash of soda water
- Or (if you want to be more precise)
- 3 shots of Prosecco
- 2 shots or Aperol (pour in a circular motion)
- 1 shot of soda
Throw in a slice of orange and serve it up with a straw! Enjoy!