Latest news with #spritz
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
‘A sure-fire summer hit': 10 refreshing alternatives to Aperol spritz
Sundowners, aperitivo, golden hour: whatever your preferred term, using early summer evenings to relax and socialise presents a welcome chance to unwind – even if you've only been working on your tan. And aperitivo hour would be nothing without a perfectly chilled spritz in hand. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Aperol spritz – the much-Instagrammed vibrant concoction of bitter Aperol with prosecco and soda over ice with a slice – has had us Britons in a chokehold for several summers now. But there's more to spritzing than our distinctive orange-hued friend, says Alessandro Botta, founder of Aperitivo Club: 'At Aperitivo Club we don't see the spritz as a trend, but as a timeless tradition that encourages people to slow down, savour the moment and enjoy it together.' So what are the key components of a traditional Italian spritz to be served at aperitivo hour? 'An aperitivo spritz should be light, refreshing and made with prosecco,' says Botta. It's also deeply rooted in place, with each variation reflecting local flavours and traditions. In Padua, it's made with Aperol; in Milan, Campari; in Venice with Select (a juniper-based, floral aperitif); in Naples with limoncello; and in Trentino-Alto Adige, where elderflower and alpine botanicals abound, the Hugo Spritz (made of prosecco, soda, elderflower liqueur and mint). Italians are characteristically traditional with their spritzes, generally sticking to the components of prosecco, soda and some kind of liqueur. Across Europe the love for a pre-dinner low-ish-alcohol drink continues with a wider brief; in France pastis and Pernod are diluted with water for a longer, lighter serve, and the deliciously classic kir royale is common at this hour; while in Spain you'll see vermouth and soda; and Portugal's light and bright port and tonic fits the mould too. For the purposes of this piece, we'll keep things fairly traditional, with components of these spritzes similar to their Italian inspiration. All of my recommended serves are effervescent, wine-based and tend towards a botanical aspect; most have soda water in the mix, too. They all also drink best from a large wine glass over plenty of ice with good, salted crisps on the side. I've kept things on the lower-ABV side; the early evening drink is best kept to mid-strength to avoid spoiling proceedings later in the night, after all. Here are my favourite twists on the spritz to get your summer aperitivo hours off to the most sparkling start. Bellamie cherry liqueur aperitif, 70cl £34.99 at Drink Supermarket Not keen on the bitter, herbal liqueurs so commonly used when aperitivo rolls around? Try a cherry spritz made in the French aperitif style: Bellamie cherry liqueur aperitif makes for a fruitier and sweeter spritz when mixed with prosecco and soda, but brings a lovely tartness to take the edge off. On the menu at the original Ivy, it's made in Kent using real cherry blossom, cherry fruit and cherry stones, and is free from artificial colours and flavours despite its beautiful deep garnet hue. Garnish with a stick of good green olives – the umami, briny flavour really makes the cherries pop – and enjoy alongside salty snacks. Limoncé limoncello, 50cl £16.88 at Master of Malt£16.05 at Amazon I developed a love for limoncello spritzes when I visited the Amalfi coast; all over the lemon-growing south of Italy, this is an aperitivo equally as popular as the Aperol spritz and even more refreshing. Try with Limoncé limoncello, one of Italy's top limoncello brands, which uses only Sicilian femminello lemons, handpicked in winter. Serve one part Limoncé to two parts soda over ice in a large wine glass and top up with chilled prosecco for citrusy spritz heaven. A scoop of lemon sorbet has been known to find its way into mine, too, which is the ultimate in naughty summer refreshment or a perfectly acceptable pudding alternative. Italicus rosolio di bergamotto, 70cl £31.50 at Master of Malt£27.50 at Waitrose Cellar Not just a beautiful bottle, Italicus rosolio di bergamotto is a bergamot-based liqueur using native Italian botanicals. It's made to an original 1850s recipe for aperitivo di corte (royal aperitivo), so named as it was the tipple of choice for the king of Savoia. Today it's still widely enjoyed across Italy, with its gently floral citrusy profile working wonders when splashed into a glass of iced prosecco. Hold the soda, though: Italicus isn't as bitter as many aperitivo, so doesn't need further dilution. Garnish with three green olives. Bolney Estate English garden spritz, 75cl £16.95 at Slurp£17 at Bolney Wine Estate I came across this delicious spritz during my quest for the best mid-strength drinks. Indeed, the beauty of so many spritzes is that they fit into that mid-alcohol zone – this one is a very civilised 6%. This ready-to-drink spritz is crafted from the Sussex Bolney Wine Estate's 2022 chardonnay-based white vermouth and the estate's own kitchen garden botanicals. Think tart, juicy grapefruit and native English florals, blending sweet and bitter flavours for a fresh and pretty aperitif. Jawbox apple & ginger gin liqueur, 70cl £25 at Tesco£25 at Amazon Gin is a natural bedfellow for prosecco in a spritz, thanks to its juniper-led, piney bitterness, and a shot of your favourite stirred into an icy prosecco along with a dash of juice is a classic. This summer I'm into Jawbox apple & ginger gin liqueur (20% ABV as it's not straight spirit), which uses an unusual Belfast apple variety grown on the distillery's country estate. Use 500ml mixed with a bottle of prosecco and 250ml of soda in a giant jug for parties. Throw in plenty of lime wedges and fresh green apple slices to garnish. Aperitivo Club Hugo Spritz £7.98 for two cans at Aperitivo Club St-Germain elderflower liqueur, 50cl £26.50 at the Whisky Exchange£20 at Amazon Northern Italians gave the classic St-Germain spritz an update in 2005 by including fresh lime and sprigs of mint to create the Hugo spritz. It's one of the most popular summer drinks in Europe at the moment and shows no sign of going anywhere; an ad campaign for St-Germain sees Sophie Turner sipping on a Hugo spritz in the south of France. Make your own using St-Germain or stock up on these dreamy aperitivo-ready cans for enjoying on the hop: the Hugo spritz is mixed to fresh and floral perfection. Mirabeau x Fever Tree rose spritz, 75cl £14.99 at the Bottle Club£15 at John Lewis Sparkling wine is a key component of any spritz, but thinking pink can keep things interesting. This rose spritz from pale Provence rose peddlers Mirabeau went down very well with me at this year's Chelsea flower show. Its blend of French rose and Fever Tree's raspberry and orange blossom soda makes it a subtly fruity and afternoon-appropriate drink at a respectable 8.3%. I serve in flutes, Chelsea-style, or over ice with muddled raspberries – satisfying when you want a longer drink. Similarly, cava house Codorníu is now making a canned wine-based Codorníu Spritz infused with raspberry and hibiscus – perfect to pop in your bag for emergency summer spritzing. Desi Daru alphonso mango vodka, 70cl £34.99 at Master of Malt£39.94 at Amazon London Essence Co white peach & jasmine soda, 150ml £17.25 for 24 cans at the Whisky Exchange£4 for six cans at Amazon The origins of aperitivo mean we tend to see European flavours, but why not harness the tropical flavours of Goan beach sundowners instead? Desi Daru alphonso mango vodka is on the menu in London restaurants such as Hoppers and Benares, and swirling a shot into a standard Aperol spritz gives it a heavily fragrant south Asian makeover that I find far more tempting than the original iteration. I'm also a fan of increasing the desi flavours further with 25ml of Desi Daru alphonso mango vodka, 25ml sauvignon blanc and 100ml of London Essence Co white peach & jasmine soda, served over ice and garnished with a fresh curry leaf. Nozeco spritz, 75cl £3.32 at Asda£19.50 for six at Amazon Sober people like to spritz too, and this ready-to-drink 0% alternative is lovely enough to be enjoyed in its own right. The Nozeco spritz has just won a prestigious IWSC gold award, with judges citing the alcohol-removed wine and natural orange blend as a 'delightful medley of orange peel, rhubarb and a hint of rose, complemented by herbal rosemary'. They said it has a 'lively acidity, culminating in a refreshing crisp finish that lingers with a pleasing bitterness'. They're right; my testers and I agree it's a sure-fire summer hit and a bargain to boot. Monin rhubarb syrup, 70cl £9.33 at Master of Malt Ask a bartender the flavour of the moment and they'll likely say rhubarb. I recently enjoyed a divine fig and rhubarb spritz (vodka, fig liqueur, rhubarb syrup, lime and soda) at Caravan, while Bar Termini's popular Spritz Termini comprises gin, rhubarb, Aperol and prosecco. Monin's classic rhubarb syrup is a simple way to make all manner of on-trend cocktails, particularly the classic spritz: mix 20ml of Monin rhubarb with 120ml of sparkling wine and 60ml of soda, then stir with ice and garnish with lemon. It's light and summery without going down the more predictable berry or citrus route. For something harder, I like to swap the soda for a shot of gin. Joanne Gould is a food, drink and lifestyle writer with a decade of experience. As well as enthusiastically eating her way through London's best bars and restaurants, she's also a keen home cook and can often be found trying a new recipe or kitchen gadget, while taste-testing anything from South African wines to speciality coffee or scotch. Luckily, she also enjoys walking, running and keeping fit and healthy in her spare time – for balance
Washington Post
03-07-2025
- Washington Post
Effervescent spritzes are built for summer sipping
Days after I'd decided to write about summer spritzes, I was — by pure coincidence — sent into the heart of Spritzville, the Mediterranean coast of France. This was for a work conference unrelated to cocktail writing, and it was a shock: In decades of travel for my nonprofit job, I have slept in cars, tents, a closet with a bunch of cowboys snoring in the hallway and dozens of budget hotel rooms that could typically be described as 'dreary' but occasionally veered into 'stabby.' Spending a few days in Cannes was a freakish occurrence. It did, however, encourage me to try to manifest wonderful things simply by declaring an intent to write about them. Testing it now: Next column, I shall write about ponies. Take heed, universe.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Major pub chain giving away 10,000 free cocktails worth £12 to customers who make key move
A MAJOR pub chain is set to give away 10,000 free cocktails this summer. The freebies are being offered up as part of the chain's launch of its new summer spritz menu. 4 4 Young's Pubs are giving away free Lillet Rhubarb Rosé Spritz to anyone who downloads the chain's app. The pink spritz will be available all Young's Pubs locations with the free drinks offered up as part of a celebration for the launch of a new menu. The menu is being launched in collaboration with Lillet Rosé, an aperitif seen in hit Netflix show Emily in Paris. Available at all Young's Pubs locations the new menu offers a variety of interesting and refreshing flavours perfect for summer. Passionfruit Yuzu, Tom Collins, Cuban Colada, Sparkling Marg, Strawberries and cream and Rhubarb Rose will all feature on the menu. To bag a free cocktail customers will need to download the Young's On Tap app and enter the promo code 'RHUBARBROSE.' After this customers should add a Rhubarb Rosé to their basket to receive it for free. The Youngs On Tap app also allows customers to add songs to the jukebox, locate their nearest Young's Pub and order straight to their table. Lillet summer takeover sessions are also scheduled at several locations with the Rosé company to host the summer events. Live DJ sets, music and refreshing spritz' will be on offer during the takeover sessions. How to spruce up your spritz The Phoenix Victoria will host a takeover session on 27th of June, The King's Arms in Wandsworth on the 28th of June, The Coat and Badge on the 12th of July and Wandsworth's The Ship on the 23rd of August. Further details about the sessions can be found on each of the pubs websites. Young's Pubs boasts more than 270 boozers across London and the South of England. The firm will be giving away up to 10,000 free cocktails as part of the launch of their new menu. 4 Their new menu has been launched alongside a collaboration with Lillet. Customers can expect the Rosé to feature heavily in the pub chain's new summer menu. Designed for summer the firm has said their new cocktail is "the perfect companion for sunny afternoons." Young's Pubs summer spritz menu offers up several new cocktails described as: "The perfect refreshing choice, blending bubbly prosecco, zesty citrus, and the occasional hint of sweetness. "These vibrant drinks are perfect for any occasion and are sure to offer a crisp and invigorating taste." NHS guidelines on drinking alcohol According to the NHS, regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week risks damaging your health. To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks: men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week If you're pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum. You read more on the NHS website.
Forbes
04-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Aperol To Hugo: 5 Cocktails Driving Spritz Season
Spritz culture has expanded beyond Aperol, with new variations gaining popularity for their lighter profiles and all-day versatility. Spritz season no longer begins in June and ends with Labor Day. It now stretches from early spring into fall. These cocktails appear on rooftop bar menus and social media feeds well past summer. The format has shifted. The spritz no longer refers only to Aperol with prosecco. (Although that is still a classic for a reason.) It now signals a broader style: low-proof, refreshing and often served over ice. According to hospitality research firm CGA, overall spritz sales have tripled in recent years. Spritz sales at U.S. bars and restaurants tripled between 2022 and 2023, making it the seventh most popular cocktail nationwide, according to Wine Enthusiast. And in Europe, more people are now choosing spritzes over champagne. In a 2024 survey by BeverageDaily, 77% of Italians and 49% of Germans favored spritzes. Here are five drinks that reflect how the spritz has expanded into a broader category. The Hugo Spritz combines elderflower liqueur, prosecco, soda water, mint and lime for a light, floral take on the classic spritz. A few years ago, the Hugo Spritz was little known outside of the northern Italian Alps. Today, it is one of the most recognizable cocktails of the season. Built around elderflower liqueur, prosecco, soda water, mint and lime, the drink has moved quickly from regional curiosity to international mainstay. In 2024, Google searches for the Hugo Spritz rose by 172% across the United States, United Kingdom and France. Julian Arreola, a brand ambassador for St-Germain, says via Zoom that travel and social media helped drive the trend. 'Following the pandemic, as travelers flocked to France and Italy, they discovered the Hugo Spritz, sharing their new favorite cocktail on their social feeds and ordering it at their favorite bars and restaurants when they returned stateside.' The global low-alcohol beverage market is expected to grow from $1.33 billion in 2024 to $1.41 billion in 2025. According to the Bacardi 2025 Cocktail Trend Report, 20% of drinkers aged 21 to 25 now prefer lower-alcohol cocktails. This shift toward lighter drinks aligns with the Hugo's rise. 'Overall, Gen Z are conscious drinkers and really care a lot about what they are consuming,' Arreola says. 'They're prioritizing delicious drinks that they can enjoy with their friends and have a good time while having a balanced lifestyle.' The Limoncello Spritz blends limoncello, prosecco and soda water into a citrus-forward cocktail. The limoncello spritz has gained popularity for its clarity and name recognition. Limoncello, a lemon liqueur made from zest and sugar, has long been served chilled after meals. Combined with prosecco and soda water, it now reaches a younger audience looking for something lighter. Bartenders often favor it for its simplicity. The components are easy to source and require little adjustment. Guests recognize the flavor and respond to the freshness. Some versions include lemon wheels or basil to round out the profile. It suits the same drinker who might once have ordered an Aperol spritz but now prefers something sweeter. The White Port and Tonic pairs dry white port with tonic water, offering a lower-proof alternative with floral and stone fruit notes. First served in Portugal's Douro Valley, the white port and tonic has started appearing in bars focused on wine or fortified aperitifs. White port offers a lower-alcohol base with stone fruit and floral notes. Tonic adds structure and bitterness. Garnishes such as orange or mint give it balance. The drink's appeal comes from its lightness and structure. It is layered but accessible. Some bars now list it as an aperitif standard, often with flavored tonics or light citrus infusions. It remains unfamiliar to many guests, but has become a summer default in recent years for others. The Bubbly French Blonde adds tonic or pét-nat to the original blend of gin, elderflower liqueur, Lillet Blanc and grapefruit. The French Blonde is not technically a spritz. It has no sparkling wine or soda water. But spritz lovers have filled the void with the Bubbly French Blonde. Bartenders have started adapting the original recipe (gin, elderflower liqueur, Lillet Blanc, grapefruit juice and bitters) by topping it with tonic or pét-nat for a sparkling finish. The result is a light, floral cocktail with gentle bitterness and structure. Its soft color and elegant presentation have helped drive renewed attention online, where it has become a favorite among drinkers looking for a spritz-style option with more complexity. The Aperol Spritz combines Aperol, prosecco and soda water for a bittersweet, citrusy cocktail that remains a classic warm-weather staple. The Aperol Spritz remains the most recognized and widely ordered version of the category. It's quite simply an icon of the category now. Its structure—Aperol, prosecco, soda water and a slice of orange—is simple, consistent and easy to replicate, which has helped it endure across seasons and markets. Its bitter-orange palate and light texture make it a reliable choice for early evening cocktail hours. For many drinkers, it was the introduction to the spritz style and remains a go-to on summer menus. That familiarity has also opened the door to variation. Many bars now offer new takes using different liqueurs or modifiers while keeping the same format. 'We're starting to see people demand higher quality, more elevated ingredients,' says Arreola. 'I think we'll see people continue to explore more versatility within the spritz category that go beyond the traditional bitter flavor profiles.'t
