Spritz cocktails carry one of the most honest origin stories in drink culture: a soldier who found a local wine too strong, added a splash of water, and changed the world.
Where spritz cocktails come from
The spritz traces its origins to northern Italy in the 19th century, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire ruled the Veneto region. Austrian soldiers stationed there found Italian wines too strong for their taste and began diluting them with water. The word itself is German for “splash,” and it says everything about the drink’s philosophy: lightness, balance, restraint.
As time passed, wine became prosecco, and Italians started to supplement the drink with fortified wines, and then liqueurs like amari. The formula grew more interesting with every generation. Since 2011, spritz is an official cocktail of the International Bartenders Association.
There are many cocktail customs around the world, but few are as famous as Italy’s aperitivo culture. It is a daily ritual that marks the end of the working day, and the spritz cocktail is often the star of the show. With its simple mix of sparkling wine, bittersweet aperitif, and a splash of club soda, the classic spritz is designed to be sipped before an evening meal.
The formula behind all great spritz cocktails
Every good spritz starts with 1 simple ratio. The classic recipe uses the 3:2:1 formula: 3 parts prosecco, 2 parts liqueur, and 1 part soda water, served in a large wine or rocks glass over ice. This structure gives you room to explore without losing balance.
The secret to a great spritz is quality ingredients, which means a good bottle of dry prosecco and an excellent liqueur. The 2 should marry a touch of bitterness with complex botanicals. From there, garnishes become the final act. Fresh is typically best for both fruit and herbs, although dried citrus wheels make a gorgeous addition to these vibrant cocktails.
Traditionally served as an aperitif, these low-ABV drinks typically combine effervescent ingredients like prosecco, club soda, and a bitter liqueur for a perfect balance of bitter, sweet, and sparkling. That balance is what keeps people coming back to spritz cocktails long after novelty fades.
7 spritz cocktails to try this June
1. Aperol spritz. The hero of Italian happy hour, the Aperol spritz is a sunny, sweet, and bitter cocktail that speaks to the idea of refreshment. Typically served as an after-work drink or before-dinner aperitif, the cocktail is a simple mix of prosecco, Aperol, and club soda. Garnish with 1 orange slice and serve over plenty of ice.
2. Campari spritz. If an Aperol spritz is too sweet for you, consider a Campari spritz. Made with Campari, a classic red bitter from Northern Italy, it has a more intense herbal flavor along with the same refreshing bubbles of its lighter cousin.
3. Hugo spritz. Arguably the trendiest spritz of recent years, the Hugo spritz has gained many fans for its delicately botanical flavor, courtesy of the elderflower liqueur St-Germain and muddled mint. Add 3 parts prosecco, 1 part elderflower liqueur, a splash of soda, and a sprig of mint. Light and deeply aromatic.
4. Cynar spritz. Cynar, made from artichokes, gives this spritz a unique, herbal character. Mix it with prosecco and soda water, serve it on ice, and you get a drink that is intriguing and refreshing, often garnished with an orange slice or an olive. This one rewards the curious palate.
5. Limoncello spritz. Limoncello brings a zesty, citrusy quality to the spritz format. Combine 2 parts limoncello with 3 parts prosecco and a short pour of soda. Garnish with a thin lemon wheel. The result is bright, direct, and very easy to drink in warm afternoon sun.
6. Lillet spritz. This variation uses Lillet Blanc, a fruity French aperitif, combined with prosecco and a splash of tonic water. Serve it chilled with ice and garnish with a slice of cucumber or a sprig of rosemary for a touch of elegance. France meets Venice in a beautiful glass.
7. Select spritz. The original spritz veneziano uses the bitter aperitif Select as its flavoring ingredient and was created in Venice in 1920. Select Aperitivo offers a slightly richer and more herbal taste than Aperol. Venetian purists consider this the only true spritz, and after 1 sip, you will understand their conviction.
A perspective from the aperitivo world
The spritz is not a simple drink hiding behind a simple appearance. It carries centuries of ritual, regional identity, and a very specific social contract between the drinker and the hour. When you choose Cynar over Aperol, or Select over Campari, you are not just selecting a flavor. You are aligning yourself with a tradition, a city, a philosophy of how the afternoon should end. The 3:2:1 ratio is a beginning, not a rule. Great spritz cocktails are built by people who understand the bitter, respect the bubbles, and know that the garnish is never decoration. It is a statement. The future of aperitivo culture belongs to those who take the formula seriously and then, slowly, make it their own.
Industry perspective, aperitivo and cocktail culture professionals
Why spritz cocktails keep growing
The numbers confirm what every warm terrace already knows. The spritz was 1 of the 10 best-selling cocktails at bars and restaurants in the United States in 2024 and is increasing in popularity faster than other top 10 drinks, according to NIQ. The reasons are structural, not accidental.
It is easy to make a spritz into a lower alcohol or alcohol-free version, with sessionability in mind over the high ABV of other cocktails. Across multiple markets, consumers are moving their social drinking earlier in the day, favoring late afternoon and early evening serves over late-night sessions. Spritz cocktails fit that shift perfectly.
Spritz-style drinks have become a year-round menu staple, as demand for light, low-alcohol cocktails and interest in Italian aperitivo culture continues to grow. From Mexico City rooftop bars to Tokyo summer menus, the format travels well because good balance always does.
Raise a glass to spritz cocktails
Spritz cocktails are proof that the best drinks carry a story. From a Venetian bacaro to your kitchen counter, the same formula connects 2 centuries of shared afternoon pleasure. These 7 variations give you a full range: from sweet and accessible to herbal and complex. Start with the Aperol spritz if you are new to the format. Then work through the list and let each spritz cocktail teach you something different about bitter, bubbles, and the art of the slow pour. Try at least 3 of them this June. Share them with someone who deserves a good afternoon.
Discover more about spritz cocktails
- The Aperitivo Growth Opportunity: IWSR Market Analysis
- Spritz: A Sparkling Opportunity for Beverage Alcohol, Beverage Daily
- Spritz (Cocktail), Wikipedia)
