Amaro Spritz

Name: Amaro Spritz
Yield: 1 cocktail
Ingredients: 2 ounces amaro; 3 ounces dry sparkling wine; 1 ounce soda water; Lime wheel

By Rebekah Peppler

Rating: 4(626)
Notes: Read community notes

This simple recipe takes the 3-2-1 spritz formula to heart, relying on just three quality ingredients. Amari styles vary wildly in viscosity and flavor, from intensely bitter to lightly sweet and floral, which means different bottles match different moods. To make sure you’re always prepared, stock a few of the bitter liqueurs and start drinking. Current favorites include French China-China (spiced, earthy and orange-based), Sicilian Averna (sweet, citrusy), Californian Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro (juicy, floral) and Brooklyn-based Forthave Spirits Marseille Amaro (herbal, with warm spices). To these, add any hyper-regional bottles you’ve tucked into a suitcase. All spritz nicely, especially when paired with a lime wheel.

Featured in: The Aperol Spritz Is Not a Good Drink

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Ingredients

Yield:1 cocktail

2ounces amaro
3ounces dry sparkling wine
1ounce soda water
Lime wheel

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Step 1
Fill a wine glass with ice, then add the amaro. Top with sparkling wine and soda water. Add the lime wheel directly into the spritz and enjoy immediately.

Ratings

4 out of 5

626 user ratings

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Claude Funston4 years ago

The mistake everyone makes is to add the sparkling wine after you put in the ice. When you do that, the wine fizzes up and you lose half the bubbles. If you want to do it best, pour the wine and then gently put in the ice with a tong. You will keep more of the bubbles. Then put in the amaro or Aperol or whatever.

Janine4 years ago

Pshaw. A proper Aperol spritz w good quality ingredients is a joy forever. Had my first in Milan 10 years ago. Love making them at home.

SusannaRae4 years ago

We grew up hearing my Dad always say after watching the Leonard Bernstein Young People's Concerts and lectures: "I guess I enjoyed it by mistake."

Michael Cameron4 years ago

Until I read this article, I used to like an occasional Aperol spritz. Thank you so much for exposing my error! I will cease immediately.

Tom4 years ago

As i sit here with 8 people over dinner i can’t help but reviewer your cocktail. First off... bravo, big contender, very popular. Second off... everyone agrees it’s not even close to the type of flavor of an Aperol Spritz. This one’s an aperitif too. Before dinner. Aperol Spritz is more of a day drink - Summery and sweet. There’s room for both. Drink up and please stop being so judgey.

Violeta4 years ago

I have my own version of Aperol Spritz that I invented. I don't use the Prosecco and substitute a jigger of gin (my favorite liquor) I know it's not traditional but it makes for one good drink and makes it more complex. The bubbles are supplied by the mineral water. I like the color and it's not too sweet. Since I do not drink anything after the one drink, this works for me. Will have to investigate the recommended amaros.

JAB4 years ago

Right! Why complain about the Aperol Spritz when your real complaint is with the bad Prosecco? Don't bug me about my Aperol Spritz! Though I'm certainly not against swapping out the Aperol for an Amaro either.

K4 years ago

I think an Aperol spritz made with high quality prosecco, orange seltzer, and a slice of orange is perfectly nice if taken in the late afternoon on a summer day, whether in Rome or on a New York rooftop overlooking the sunset in New Jersey. But I'll certainly experiment with other amaro spritzes because I do agree that Aperol is a bit sweet if not properly diluted.

Catherine4 years ago

Rawther baby-out-with-bath-water-y. So use a decent dry Prosecco and a hunk of grapefruit.

Mark L.4 years ago

Bruto Americano from St. George Spirits in Alameda, Caliornia is a great alternative to Campari and Aperol, complex and delicious, and it doesn't contain artificial coloring as those do; also makes for a great Negroni.

ayse4 years ago

well, I like an aperol drink in the sun before dinner; If you really want something light, I just go with club soda and aperol with an orange twist; if you really need to feel trendy, a touch of amaro( we like Lucano) just to bring down the sweet.

Amanda4 years ago

Similar and bitter is a Negroni Sbagliato which literally means a "wrong Negroni." It's a Negroni in which you swap out Proseco/sparkling wine for the gin. Not as lethal.

Claire3 years ago

I think the Aperol Spritz is one of those drinks that has to be drunk in the right place at the right time. On a Sicilian harbour side, a Roman piazza or an Athenian rooftop there’s nothing like it.

Lala4 years ago

I actually really enjoy that Lo-Fi amaro. It’s very light. High Wire Distillery from CHS, SC also makes a beautiful amaro. I honestly love Campari and soda with a slice of orange

Dennis P.4 years ago

Aperol-negroni gets a little heavier, but is a nice afternoon cocktail!

keith8 months ago

Is there a difference between Montenegro Amaro and Amaro? I have the former at home and just want to know in case I don’t need to buy the latter.

KB1 year ago

Great summer drink for the patio. We tried it with Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro, which I'd coincidentally purchased the day before finding this recipe, as well as with Amaro Lucano, which is more dark and herbal. Both tasty!

KL1 year ago

Just back from Puglia and Bologna. Enjoyed an aperol spritz every evening. Delightful. Brought a bottle back with me.

Jonathan2 years ago

Made this with China-China, a zardetto sparkling wine and club soda and it’s perfect. Infinitely superior to a peril spritz. Note that you need a good-sized wine glass to accommodate all the ice plus six oz of liquid.

Mara Thompson3 years ago

Somehow, I missed the whole Aperol Spritz debacle of a year ago. I just made an Amaro Spritz as this recipe calls for. It's good. However, I still prefer the Aperol Spritz. I must have really bad taste.

William3 years ago

I have to disagree. I realIze this article was written pre-pandemic so, at least in my life, circumstances have changed. Nothing gives me more pleasure than an Aperol Spritz in the afternoon. I call it my “glass of liquid sunshine”. And having just tried the Amaro Spritz, I find it ... well, depressing.

BW3 years ago

I really like using Lillet or Vermouth for a spritz.

BW3 years ago

if you pre wet the ice (just rinse it under the tap) it helps to keep the fizz in your drink.

ACB3 years ago

To order this in Venice, ask for a "Spritz con bitter". Often made with Campari. Preferably with an orange peel garnish.

DJ3 years ago

Make sure your ingredients are cold, thus it will take the ice longer to melt. We aren't looking for real dilution in this drink as there are no high alcohol levels involved. And part of the fun of using Aperol is the great color, whereas many Amaro's are some browinsh color and best hidden in a short glass rather than a wine glass.

Claire3 years ago

Ron3 years ago

I don’t see the point to add lime! We are drinking a spritz not a G&T, An orange slice is the Spritz s style...

elle3 years ago

Here's a great citrus spritz: 3 parts ginger beer 2 parts vodka 1/4 fresh lime Combine over ice. (Sssh. It's a Moscow mule)

Jeffrey O.4 years ago

Made this with Amaro Nonino and Meinklang. Incredible. Don't skimp on the lime, as it helps to balance out the dryness of the wine and the soda water.

Rob4 years ago

I subsitutue sparkling water for the wine for a nice light and refreshing spritzer.

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