roonee If you’ve ever been lucky enough to take a trip to Venice, you may have noticed people at bars, sitting back and enjoying glasses of something white, orange, or red. The chances are, they were drinking a spritz – to enjoy a spritz in Venice is a must when you visit! It’s a fantastic way to relax in the evenings while chatting to your friends, enjoying cicchetti, and people watching.
There are several variations of the Venetian spritz, so here are a few to look out for, and some simple recipes so you can recreate them at home to bring a bit of Venice to whatever part of the world you are in.
1. Aperol Spritz
The Aperol Spritz is the most common in Venice, and you’ll find it on every bar menu in the city, often at delightfully cheap prices! If you go adventuring and exploring further afield to the Venetian islands, you’ll even come across bars offering Aperol Spritz in takeaway cups so you can happily sip as you wonder!
Easy to recreate at home, Aperol Spritz is the perfect drink for a hot, sunny day. All you need is soda water, Prosecco, and Aperol Spritz, and you’re good to go!
Aperol Spritz at Home
- 1/3 Aperol
- 1/3 Prosecco (or similar)
- 1/3 Soda water
Half fill your chosen glass with ice, and add your liquids. For a truly Venetian tipple, add a slice of orange and an olive to your glass before you kick back and enjoy!!
2. Campari Spritz
A stronger alternative to the Aperol Spritz, and favourite of native Venetians is the Campari Spritz. It’s darker in colour than the orange Aperol version, and has a more bitter flavour. This drink isn’t for everyone, but it’s worth a try if you like Aperol Spritz!
Campari Spritz at Home
- 1/3 Campari
- 1/3 Prosecco (or similar)
- 1/3 Soda water
Half fill your chosen glass with ice, and add your liquids, the same as an Aperol Spritz. To make a true Campari Spritz, the olive isn’t optional!
3. Hugo Spritz
The Hugo Spritz isn’t as typically Venetian as the previous two options, but it’s still found on menus all over Venice! This is a lighter, more refreshing take on the traditional Venetian spritz, and it’s a truly tasty drink.
Hugo Spritz at Home
- 1/2 sparkling water
- 1/2 Prosecco
- Drizzle of elderflower syrup
- Handful of mint leaves
Start by giving your mint leaves a good squash in your hands to release some of the flavours before adding them to the bottom of your glass with some ice. Drizzle your elderflower syrup onto the leaves and leave everything to settle for a couple of minutes. Pour in your sparkling water and prosecco and enjoy!
These all sound great must admit that the Hugo Spritz is the first time I hear of it but sounds an absolute must try!
It really is delicious, and it’s probably the easiest spritz to recreate at home!