Strawberry Aperol Spritz

What Is an Aperol Spritz?

While the Aperol spritz is a fairly recent creation, the “Spritz” cocktail has been around since the 1800’s. 

The story goes that Austro-Hungarian soldiers stationed in northern Italy in the 1800’s found the local wine too strong for their liking. To dilute the wine, they added a splash of water. In German, “spritz” means splash — hence the name! 

The spritz cocktail evolved over time. Sparkling water came to replace still water, and eventually spritz cocktails started being made with sparkling Italian wine (prosecco). 

The Aperol aperitif was created in 1919 by the brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri. It wasn’t until the 1950’s, however, that the Aperol spritz was born.

It was created as an aperitif, a drink that’s lower in alcohol that’s intended to stimulate the appetite. It took off immediately in Italy, but the Aperol craze didn’t hit the US until the early 2000’s. 

After the Barbieri brothers’ liquor company was acquired by the Campari Group, a huge marketing campaign was launched in the US to popularize the refreshing cocktail — and subsequently increase sales of its main ingredient, Aperol.      

Special Tools You’ll Need

• Large jar — You’ll need a large enough container for making the strawberry-infused Aperol. I used a half-gallon mason jar
• Jigger — For measuring out the ingredients. 
• Cutting board and knife — For cutting the strawberries as well as orange slices to garnish your cocktail. 
• Strainer —To strain the strawberries out of the Aperol. 
• Funnel — After the strawberries have infused the Aperol with their sweet flavor, I prefer transferring the strained Aperol back into its original bottle for easier storage. A funnel makes returning the Aperol to the bottle much simpler! 
• Glasses — Balloon or wine glasses are typical for making Aperol spritz cocktails. We love these elegant wine glasses! 

The 4 Key Ingredients

This Aperol spritz cocktail made with strawberries requires minimal ingredients. A full list of ingredients with their measurements can be found in the recipe card below, but here are the main items.

• Fresh strawberries — Use in-season berries for the sweetest, freshest strawberry flavor.
• Aperol — A brightly colored, orange-flavored aperitif. It’s low ABV (11%) and has a complex, bittersweet flavor. The exact ingredients in Aperol are a secret. However, it’s known that Aperol is made with citrus oil from both sweet and bitter oranges, as well as rhubarb, gentian root, and cinchona bark. 
• Prosecco — A sparkling Italian white wine that’s traditionally produced in northern Italy. There are a lot of bad bubbles out there, so look for the label “DOC” or “DOCG” on your Prosecco to ensure it’s good quality. If you don’t have any Prosecco on hand, you can substitute another sparkling white wine or even Champagne. 
• Club soda — You can use any club soda you like when making Aperol spritz cocktails. I often buy club soda from Fever-Tree, but it can be pricey. I just like that it’s highly carbonated! Alternately, Schweppes, Canada Dry, and Q Mixers are options with a lower price point. 

How to Make a Strawberry Aperol Spritz 

Making an Aperol spritz is as simple as it gets! To make this strawberry variation, do the following:  

1. Make the strawberry-infused Aperol. Wash, dry, and halve the strawberries, then add to the bottom of a large jar and pour the Aperol over top. 
2. Seal the jar with the lid and transfer to the fridge. Let the Aperol and strawberries infuse for at least 2 days, or up to 5 days. 
3. Strain before using. After infusing, strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer and transfer the Aperol back to the original bottle using a funnel. 
4. Build your cocktail in the glass. Fill a balloon or wine glass with cubed ice, then add the prosecco, followed by the Aperol, and lastly the soda water. Garnish as desired!

Tips for Making the Best Aperol Spritz

• Serve immediately — Over time the carbonation will lessen and the ice will dilute the drink. 
• Pre-chil the individual ingredients — This helps keep your cocktail colder for longer, which slows the ice from melting and subsequently diluting your spritz. 
• Use good quality prosecco — It accounts for 3 parts of the cocktail, so you want a good bottle of bubbly. 
• Buy name brand Aperol — Now is not the time to buy a cheaper version of the classic aperitif! 
• Use highly carbonated club soda — The more carbonated the club soda, the more refreshing your cocktail will be. 
• Use ice cubes, not crushed ice — Crushed ice melts faster and will dilute the cocktail more quickly. 

What Can Be Substituted for the Aperol?

• Luxardo Aperitivo – The most similar to Aperol. It has the same ABV (11%) but is slightly more bitter in flavor. 
• Select Aperitivo — Another Italian aperitif, but with a higher alcohol volume. The flavor profile is similar. 
• Lillet Rouge – Has a similar flavor to Aperol, but it’s not an exact match (nothing is!). Also, Lillet is French and not Italian. 

Katie’s Tip: Do NOT swap the Aperol with Campari, which looks very similar to Aperol but has nearly twice the amount of alcohol in it and is far more bitter.

Can I make this as a pitcher cocktail?

Yes! Just follow the 3-2-1 ratio. For a crowd, you might try 3 cups Prosecco, 2 cups Aperol, and 1 cup club soda.

If you plan on making an Aperol spritz pitcher, wait to prepare it until just before you plan on serving it. Otherwise your pitcher cocktail will lose carbonation. 

I also recommend adding the ice directly to the wine glasses and not adding it to the pitcher, otherwise the Aperol mixture will become diluted. 

Can I make this as a mocktail?

I’ve never made an Aperol spritz mocktail before, but you can easily do so using a non-alcoholic bitter orange spirit and non-alcoholic Prosecco. 

What to Serve with Your Strawberry Spritz 

An Aperol spritz is bittersweet so it’s best paired with salty dishes like olives. Some nibbles you could serve alongside your cocktail include: 

• Homemade Microwave Popcorn
• Marinated Feta
• Tomato Crostini with Pesto and Goat Cheese
• Marinated Olives
• Olive Puff Pastry Cups
• Summer Squash Crostini
• Asparagus Puff Pastry Squares