Amaro Spritz recipe
A refreshing, herbaceous Italian spritz balancing bitter amaro with crisp sparkling wine and soda.
Method: Build and stir ·
Glass: Chilled wine glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: Modern Classics
Ingredients
- 2 oz Amaro (preferably a balanced amaro like Montenegro or Nonino)
- 3 oz Prosecco (chilled dry sparkling wine)
- 1 oz Club soda (chilled sparkling water)
- 1 slice Orange (for garnish)
How to make a Amaro Spritz
- Fill a large wine glass generously with ice cubes.
- Pour in two ounces of your chosen amaro.
- Add three ounces of chilled Prosecco and one ounce of club soda.
- Stir gently from bottom to top for a few seconds to incorporate the ingredients without losing carbonation.
- Garnish with a fresh orange wheel and serve immediately.
Garnish
Garnish with a fresh orange wheel and an optional sprig of rosemary.
Pro tip
Choose your amaro based on your preference for sweetness and bitterness; lighter amaris like Nonino yield a bright, floral spritz, while darker ones like Averna create a richer, earthier drink.
History of the Amaro Spritz
While the spritz traces its origins back to Venetian soldiers diluting northern Italian white wines with soda water during the 19th century, the modern iteration incorporating bitter liqueurs and sparkling wine evolved across Italian cafe culture. Aperol and Campari became the ubiquitous foundations for the classic spritz, yet contemporary bartenders frequently substitute rich, herbaceous amari in place of bright aperitifs. This adaptation yields a deeper, more complex flavor profile that transforms a warm-weather staple into a sophisticated, year-round long drink.
Flavour profile
Bitter, Herbal, Effervescent, Citrusy
Variations
- Alpine Amaro Spritz — Substitute the standard amaro with a piney, alpine amaro such as Braulio and garnish with a lemon wheel and mint.
- Cynar Spritz — Use artichoke-based Cynar for an intensely earthy, deeply bitter profile paired with a grapefruit twist.
Practise making the Amaro Spritz in the free Virtual Bar game.