Cocktail

Aperol Spritz Recipe

Name: Aperol Spritz
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 90 ml Prosecco; 60 ml Aperol; 30 ml Soda water; 1 slice Orange

Prosecco, Aperol and soda. The 3-2-1 Italian aperitivo.

Aperol and prosecco

Base Spirit

~8%

Approx ABV

Easy

Difficulty

2 min

Prep Time

🥂 Large wine glass 🧊 Cubed Bittersweet, orange, sparkling

The Aperol Spritz is a low-alcohol Italian aperitivo made with 3 parts prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part soda water, served over ice with a slice of orange. It is bittersweet, lightly sparkling and one of the easiest cocktails to make and to drink.

Ingredients

Makes

90 ml Prosecco Chilled
60 ml Aperol
30 ml Soda water A splash
1 slice Orange For the garnish

Garnish: Orange slice

How to Make an Aperol Spritz

Fill a large wine glass with ice.
Pour in the prosecco.
Add the Aperol, pouring in a circle so that it mixes without sinking.
Top with a splash of soda water.
Stir once, gently, and add a slice of orange.

Tips for a Better Aperol Spritz

Pour the prosecco first. Aperol is heavier and sinks to the bottom if it goes in before the wine.
Use a dry prosecco labelled brut or extra dry. Sweet sparkling wine makes the drink cloying.
Fill the glass to the top with ice. More ice melts more slowly and keeps the drink fizzy.

About the Aperol Spritz

The spritz began in the Veneto region of northern Italy in the 1800s, when the area was part of the Austrian Empire. Austrian soldiers found the local wine too strong and asked for a splash of water, "spritzen" in German. Over time the still water became soda and a measure of bitter liqueur was added.

Aperol was created in Padua in 1919 by the brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri. It is flavoured with bitter and sweet orange, rhubarb and gentian and is bottled at just 11% ABV in most countries. The Aperol Spritz became a daily habit in Venice and Padua from the 1950s.

Campari Group bought the brand in 2003 and marketed the 3-2-1 recipe worldwide. It is now the best-known aperitivo cocktail in Europe and a summer standard in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and Australia. The IBA lists it as an official cocktail under the name Spritz.

Aperol Spritz Variations

Hugo Spritz: elderflower and mint in place of Aperol.
Campari Spritz: Campari for a stronger, more bitter drink.
Select Spritz: the Venetian original, made with Select aperitivo and a green olive.
Limoncello Spritz: limoncello in place of Aperol, with a sprig of basil or mint.
Negroni Sbagliato: Campari, sweet vermouth and prosecco.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in an Aperol Spritz?

An Aperol Spritz is made with 90ml (3 oz) prosecco, 60ml (2 oz) Aperol and 30ml (1 oz) soda water. It is served in a large wine glass.

How strong is an Aperol Spritz?

Made to this recipe, an Aperol Spritz is about 8% ABV and contains roughly 13 g of pure alcohol. That is about 0.9 US standard drinks, 1.3 Australian standard drinks or 1.6 UK units. It has around 160 calories per serving.

What is the Aperol Spritz ratio?

The classic ratio is 3-2-1: 3 parts prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part soda water. In a wine glass that is 90ml (3 oz) prosecco, 60ml (2 oz) Aperol and 30ml (1 oz) soda.

What does an Aperol Spritz taste like?

Lightly bitter, gently sweet and fizzy. Aperol tastes of bittersweet orange with rhubarb and herbs, and it is far milder than Campari.

What is the best prosecco for an Aperol Spritz?

A dry prosecco labelled brut or extra dry. There is no need for an expensive bottle, because Aperol dominates the flavour.

What is the difference between Aperol and Campari?

Both are Italian red bitters. Aperol is about 11% ABV, sweeter and orange-led. Campari is about 25% ABV, darker and much more bitter.

Drink responsibly. The legal drinking age in India varies by state, from 18 to 25. Alcohol content shown is an estimate and changes with ice, dilution and the strength of the bottle you use. We do not sell alcohol.

About the Author

Shivam Sharma

I am the founder and editor of The Spirit Atlas. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, I built this platform to be the most helpful and honest spirits guide for Indian readers — covering everything from Scotch and Indian single malts to rum, gin and tequila, along with prices across every major Indian state. My goal is simple: to make the world of spirits a little more approachable for everyone.

Last updated: October 2026