Perfect on the beach in summer evenings, loved on the canals of Milan as under the sky of Rome: the Spritz has conquered those who love to enjoy a drink with friends or an aperitif outdoors. Orange color, fresh taste and slightly bitter note, we discover the history and recipe of Spritz.
Spritz is an icon of the Italian summer (and not only), a cocktail with a unique flavor and the characteristic orange color of the Veneto region, which is known throughout the world.
This aperitif has become a tradition for those who love to enjoy a drink in the company not excessively allcolico, in fact it should not exceed 11 degrees, is ideal during an aperitif outdoors.
cosmopolitan
The history of the Spritz
The history of the famous Spritz is very interesting, dating back to the period of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, when Austrian soldiers were stationed in Italy and could not appreciate the local wine.
The intense taste of the wine was dampened by the soldiers by diluting it with very sparkling water (Selz’s water) giving rise to the “Spritz”, a term derived from the German “spritzen” which means “spray”.
If initially this beverage was made only of wine and sparkling water (and in some areas of Italy it is still so), over time, the recipe has evolved giving rise to numerous variations.
In fact, the traditional recipe involves the use of Prosecco, aperitif and soda, but there are many variations that require the use of other ingredients.
In principle Prosecco, the appreciated white sparkling wine of Valdobbiadene and Treviso, remains the main ingredient in all versions while it can change the aperitif according to preferences (e.g. Spritz Aperol, Campari or Select). Soda, on the other hand, is added to dilute the cocktail and make it less alcoholic.
Different versions aside, the International Bartender Association officially recognized the Spritz cocktail prepared with Aperol in 2011.
flawless
Spritz, the original recipe with doses and steps
Spritz is one of the most popular and beloved cocktails in Italy, thanks to its freshness and slightly bitter taste, it is not difficult to prepare.
That’s what a perfect Spritz looks like.
Ingredients:
- 2 parts of Aperol
- 3 parts of Prosecco
- A splash of soda, Seltz or sparkling water
- A slice of orange
- Ice
Preparation:
- The first thing to do is to fill a tulip or goblet glass with ice;
- At this point you pour the Prosecco and Aperol;
- Add a splash of soda, Seltz or sparkling water;
- Stir gently;
- Add a slice of orange in the glass.
What are the secrets of the Spritz?
The Spritz recipe is simple to make and promises to create a refreshing and tasty cocktail in a few minutes, but requires some small attention not to go wrong and not fall into clichés.
- Glass – To prepare this aperitif it is necessary to choose the right glass, that is the glass or tulip. Why? It is a wide glass at the bottom and with a narrow edge at the top that allows you to better appreciate the scent of the cocktail.
- Ice – You should not be afraid to overdo the ice for fear of watering the cocktail, on the contrary. The more ice you put in the glass, the slower it will melt.
- Order of ingredients – The result does not change the order, but pouring the ingredients as described in the recipe allows you to have a more uniform taste and a much brighter orange color.
- Mix gently – Place the orange slices at the last, after mixing the ingredients. However, it is advisable not to mix vigorously if you do not want to lose the sparkling note of Prosecco and soda (or sparkling water).
gamberorosso
How many types of Spritz are there? Here are the most famous variants
As already mentioned, in addition to the traditional recipe, there are also some alcoholic and non-alcoholic variants of Spritz very appreciated.
There is also the Spritz of the original Venetian recipe, that is a cocktail prepared with white wine and sparkling water or Seltz in equal parts and added Aperol or Campari bitters, ice and a slice of orange.
Select Spritz (Spritz prepared with Select, that is a distillate composed of about thirty aromatic herbs) and Cynar Spritz (replacement of the classic bitter with the bitter artichoke to obtain a bitter and sweet taste together) are among the most unusual versions.
There are also different alcoholic variants, among which we remember the Spritz Hugo characterized by a fresh taste and an aromatic note related to the use of Elder and fresh mint leaves and the Spritz Campari with a more intense and bitter taste because it involves the use of Campari instead of Aperol.
Who does not want to wonder how much alcohol there is in a Spritz can enjoy one of the most popular variants, the non-alcoholic Spritz. It is a non-alcoholic version based on tonic water, orange juice and bitter.
We can not forget the lemon Spritz (adding the fresh and sour note of lemon juice or limoncello to the recipe), the Red Orange Spritz (use of the red orange instead of the common orange), the Chinotto Spritz (the chinotto replaces the aperitif giving a drier and bitter taste) and the strawberry Spritz (the strawberry puree is added to the recipe to obtain a more fruity and sweet taste). Drink in moderation, enjoy company and health!
Copertina: dolciveloci