Amaro Spritz Cocktails

Amaro spritz seems to be a controversial drink these days. The New York Times wrote a story saying that the Aperol spritz is a bad drink, which I disagree with. Using Aperol, Campari or any of your favorite Amari (Cynar? Great! Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro? delicious!), you can make an amaro spritz with just amaro, bubbles -- cava, prosecco, or champagne -- and soda water. Top with a slice of orange, and you have a great drink on your hands.

why a spritz is a good drink

I love spritzes! I particularly love using an amaro that I would enjoy neat or mixed with vermouth - I recently tried out the Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro and thought it was just lovely, both on its own and in cocktails. It has a juice, floral flavor and feels very sophisticated. I'm also a sucker for good branding, and I love their design.

So enjoy a spritz, just use good ingredients!

how to make an aperol spritz, step by step

Aperol Spritz is a 3-2-1 recipe.

First, take a glass and fill it ¾ full with ice.

Take 3 ounces of prosecco or your favorite bubbly wine. Prosecco, cava, champagne, whatever

Pour in 2 ounces of your favorite Amaro. I made this recipe with Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro.

Top with 1 ounce of club soda and a slice of orange.

Ta da!

what is amaro spritz?

Amaro is Italian for "bitter." Usually amari are drunken after dinner, as a digestif, to help digest everything. Folks traditionally drink amari neat, but in the past couple of years, amari has gotten popular over ice, with gin and vermouth - a Negroni, or in spritzy type drinks.

Amaro is "typically produced by macerating herbs, roots, flowers, bark, and/or citrus peels in alcohol, either neutral spirits or wine, mixing the filtrate with sugar syrup, and allowing the mixture to age in casks or bottles."

more cocktail recipes

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• pomegranate mocktails