The drinks recipe has changed several times with the current mix of bitters, prosecco and soda water in wine glass with ice the most common.

The drink originated in the Veneto region of Italy during the occupation by the Habsburg Empire in the 1800s. When visiting local taverns, the visitors would request their wine to be sprayed or ‘spritzened’ with water to dilute its strength.

By the 1920s bitters were added to the recipe with Prosecco replacing wine in the 1970s. This addition finalised the recipe which is more or less what is still served to this day.

The drink is often referred to as Aperol Spritz due to the use of the famous Italian bitter aperitif by most bars around the world when mixing the drink. Other types of bitters like select and Campari can be used whereby the drink becomes known as spritz veneziano and spritz al campari respectively.

Ingredients

• 60ml Aperol
• 60ml Prosecco
• Soda Water
• 1 Orange

Preparation

1. Add ice to a wine glass
2. Add the Aperol and Prosecco to the glass and stir
3. Add a splash of soda water
4. Add two semi circles of orange to the glass