Pssst…Use Campari Instead of Aperol in a Spritz!
Much like its slightly-lighter cousin Aperol, Campari makes a fantastic spritz. Maybe you bought a bottle of Campari for mixing up Negronis (another fabulous cocktail) or maybe you got one as a gift? Whatever brought Campari into your life, this Campari spritz recipe is a sure fire way to enjoy the classic Italian apéritif!
Fizzy and light, bitter and bracing, the Campari spritz is light on alcohol and big on flavor! Plus, it’s a perfect pairing for all your favorite salty happy hour nibbles. What are you waiting for? Bottoms up! For an even sweeter riff on the spritz, try the classic Aperol Spritz.
4 Key Campari Spritz Ingredients
You’ll only need 4 ingredients to make this easy Campari Spritz recipe.
- Campari: The one and only.
- Prosecco: For the sparkling wine, Prosecco is the classic choice because, like Campari, Prosecco is Italian! But any good-quality sparkling wine would be fine here. I like to use a dry sparkling wine, because Campari already has quite a bit of sweetness.
- Soda water: Some cocktail folks will get picky about their bubbly water, but I am not picky. Just make sure it’s plain and not flavored!
- Orange slices: To make a pretty garnish, and for a hint of orange flavor.
What Does a Campari Spritz Taste Like?
A summer day on the Ligurian Sea! A lazy afternoon at a café on the Piazza Navona! Heaven in a glass. Big sunglasses and a super fast, tiny sports car whipping around hairpin corners in some kind of Italian summer fever dream! Or, did you mean what does it actually taste like? Campari itself is a bit syrup-y. It’s as powerful in flavor as it is in color, with a bitter edge that’s matched by quite a punch of sweetness. Campari has a heady bouquet, but is dominated by notes of orange peel, sweet rhubarb and cinnamon.
How to Make The Best Gosh Darn Campari Spritz Ever
Grab your favorite wine glass or tumbler and let’s get mixing! Here’s how to make a truly fabulous Campari Spritz:
- Fill the glass with ice. Lots of ice is very important! A spritz should be ultra-refreshing.
- Now the pretty part! Pour in the Campari, and doesn’t it just look exactly the way a cocktail should?
- Top with sparkling wine! Splits are nice for this, if you’re only making one or two Campari spritzes.
- Sparkling water comes next.
- Garnish! Orange peel at least, and some people like to finish things off with a few green olives, too.
More Cocktail Recipes to Try
Tools You’ll Need
- Cocktail jigger
- A Champagne stopper is nice to have!
- Stir spoon
Cheers!
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