Spritz (cocktail) facts for kids
| IBA official cocktail | |
|---|---|
An Aperol spritz
|
|
| Type | Wine cocktail |
| Primary alcohol by volume |
|
| Served | On the rocks; poured over ice |
| Standard garnish | Slice of Orange |
| Standard drinkware |
.svg){kind=small} |
| IBA specified ingredients  |
|
| Preparation | Build all ingredients into a wine glass filled with ice. Stir gently. |
| Spritz recipe at International Bartenders Association |
|
A spritz is a popular Italian drink, often enjoyed by adults before a meal. It's like a refreshing, bubbly mix! This drink is made with prosecco (a type of sparkling wine), a special bitter-tasting liquid called "bitters," and soda water.
The original Spritz, called Spritz Veneziano, was first made in Venice, Italy, around 1920. It used a specific bitter called Select. Today, you might also find versions like spritz al Campari (using Campari) or the very popular Aperol spritz (using Aperol).
Since 2011, the spritz has been recognized as an official drink by the IBA. It became super popular outside Italy in the 2010s. In 2019, the Aperol spritz was even named the world's ninth best-selling drink!
Contents
The History of Spritz
How the Spritz Was Invented
The spritz was first created a long time ago, in the 1800s. This was when the Habsburg Empire ruled parts of Italy, including a region called Veneto. Soldiers, traders, and other people from the Habsburg Empire came to Veneto.
They liked drinking the local wine in taverns. But the wines in Veneto were often stronger than what they were used to. So, these newcomers started asking the local people to "spray" (which is spritzen in German) a little water into their wine. This made the wine lighter and easier to drink. The very first spritz was simply sparkling or red wine mixed with fresh water.
Adding Bitters and Bubbles
Later, between the 1920s and 1930s, something new was added to the spritz. In cities like Venice or Padua, people started mixing the wine and water with local "bitters." These bitters are special liquids with a slightly bitter taste, often made from herbs.
Aperol was created in Padua in 1919, and Select was made in Venice in 1920. These became popular choices for the spritz. The basic recipe stayed the same for a while. But in the 1970s, the modern spritz recipe became popular. Instead of regular wine, people started using prosecco, which is a sparkling wine. Over time, other things like different types of liqueurs or bitters, such as Cynar, were also added, sometimes with a lemon peel.
Making a Spritz
Making a spritz is quite simple! You usually start with prosecco wine. Then, you add a bitter liqueur like Aperol, Campari, Cynar, or Aperitivo Select (especially in Venice).
Finally, you top off the glass with a splash of sparkling mineral water, often called club soda. It's usually served with ice in a wine glass or a rocks glass. To make it look nice, it's often decorated with a slice of orange. Sometimes, depending on the bitter used, an olive might be added instead of an orange slice.
Different Kinds of Spritz
There are a few different ways to make a spritz:
- Spritz Bianco (White Spritz) – This version is made with white still wine and sparkling water. It's similar to the old Spritzer drink and is often found in a region called Friuli Venezia Giulia.
- Istrian Aperol Spritz – This spritz uses a special liqueur called teranino instead of prosecco. Teranino is made from Teran wine, which comes from Istria, a region in Croatia.
- Italicus Spritz – This type of spritz uses Italicus. This is a liqueur that tastes like Bergamot orange.
See also
In Spanish: Spritz para niños
