Summer is coming... Unwind like an Italian with a spritz cocktail

A spritz cocktail is an easy and casual get-together with your best buddies.

A spritz cocktail is a breath of relief after a hectic day at the office.

A spritz cocktail is a lively Italian piazza, when the tourists go back to their hotels and the locals come out to play.

A spritz cocktail is the premise of a night of fun: The bubbles fizzing inside the empty stomach and going up to the head, feeling light already.

An orange slice, a cup full of chips, another heaping with green olives – smiles and laughs – This is the Spritz life, familiar to every Italian older than 18.

spritz photo

Spritz. Pure and simple (Photo by como coffee and more)

The Effortless Elegance of the Spritz Cocktail

And now that I gave you an emotional impression of what a Spritz is all about, let’s get to the technical specifics.

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The name “Spritz” (think of it as an onomatopoeic word), originated from the custom of adding a splash of water to wine, in order to turn it into a less-alcoholic and more enjoyable drink.

The idea behind the Spritz cocktail is still the same. An easy-going and fresh cocktail to be sipped before a meal as an aperitif, usually accompanied by a few savory snacks.

The recipe just got a bit more sophisticated. A classic Spritz cocktail calls for a base of prosecco wine, bubbly and moderately elegant, balanced by a bitter liquor (Aperol is the most popular choice). Add a splash of soda for sweetness, the iconic orange slice on the rim of the glass, and you are all set! You can also check out this video:

If we got you curious about this style of drinking, check out the just-released book Spritz: Italy’s Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, with Recipes by Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau. Talia and Leslie went on a quest through Northern Italy and collected the habits, traditions, and recipes that make up the spritz life.

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The book includes both classic recipes and more contemporary variations on the spritz “theme.” Some examples? The Alpine Spritz uses Braulio, an Italian alpine bitter. For a Tarocco Spritz, instead, you would add blood orange juice into the mix.

Summer’s around the corner, get your copy here, and start spritzing!

Too lazy to make your own spritz cocktail? These excellent bars throughout LA will be happy to serve you:

Spritz Cocktail Book

Spritz: Italy’s Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, with Recipes by Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau, copyright © 2016

Reprinted with permission from Spritz: Italy’s Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, with Recipes by Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau, copyright © 2016. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

 

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