How to Make a Better Spritz: 5 Summer Recipes

A spritz is simple, which is exactly why the small details matter. Too little ice warms the drink, the aperitivo can settle at the bottom, and flat bubbles turn a fresh drink into a dull one.

Bartender Mika Koivula put together five versions for summer tables and terrace evenings. Before the recipes, start with the one rule that makes almost any spritz easier to build.

Start here: the 3-2-1 rule

Use this ratio as a starting point:

3 parts sparkling wine, usually prosecco
2 parts aperitivo or liqueur
1 part soda

Fill the glass with ice first. Then pour the sparkling wine before the aperitivo or liqueur. The drink mixes more evenly and you lose less carbonation.

And don't be shy with the ice. A full glass stays colder and the ice melts more slowly than a couple of lonely cubes.

1. Classic Aperitivo Spritz

No reinvention needed. Get the temperature and balance right and the classic does the job.

Large wine glass filled with ice
4 cl Italian aperitivo, such as Aperol
A small splash of sparkling mineral water
Top with dry prosecco

2. Helsinki Spritz

A Helsinki take built around lingonberry and tonic.

2 parts Muteman tonic
2 parts sparkling wine
1 part Helsinki Puolukka-Gin liqueur
Serve in a large wine glass with plenty of ice

Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and a few lingonberries.

3. Fiero Spritz

Blood orange gives this one a bittersweet citrus edge that works especially well with pizza and salty snacks.

3 parts Rosé Extra Dry
2 parts Martini Fiero
1 part soda

Serve in a large wine glass with plenty of ice.

4. Rhubarb Spritz

This one starts with a homemade rhubarb cordial. Make it ahead, then the drink itself takes a minute to build.

Rhubarb cordial:

1 dl rhubarb juice
1 dl water
1.5 tsp citric acid
2 cl dry vermouth

To build the Rhubarb Spritz:

Fill a large wine glass with ice
4 cl rhubarb cordial
2 cl Aperol
Top with approx. 9 cl dry prosecco
Garnish with a strip of rhubarb or lemon

5. HDF Limoncello Spritz

Limoncello can easily turn a spritz sweet. Elderflower cordial brings acidity and freshness back into the glass.

Elderflower cordial:

1 dl elderflower juice
1 dl water
1.5 tsp citric acid

HDF Limoncello Spritz:

Fill a large wine glass with ice
4 cl limoncello
4 cl elderflower cordial
Top with approx. 10 cl dry prosecco

Stir gently and garnish with edible flowers, such as violets or elderflower.

Save the recipes for the weekend

Five spritzes, one useful rule: lots of ice, keep the bubbles cold, and build with a clear ratio. Start with the classic, then move on to the Helsinki or rhubarb versions when you want something different.

Want more recipes like these straight to your inbox before the weekend? Sign up for HDF Weekend. You can also read Finland's most popular cocktails, where Aperol Spritz placed second in the HDF community poll.

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