Spritz Variations
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Move over, Aperol, there’s a new spritz in town! The Campari spritz—bubbly, bitter, and very refreshing—is the perfect drink for a leisurely pre-dinner hang or happy hour with friends. With just 5 minutes and 5 ingredients, you can have this cocktail in hand. Keep reading on to discover everything you need.
• Grapefruit: Adding a squeeze of fresh grapefruit juice complements the tartness of Campari and provides a little fruitiness too. If you want a more fruit-forward cocktail, add 1/2 ounce fresh grapefruit juice per cocktail.
• The Campari: Campari, the star ingredient here and an important one too, was first developed in 1860 in Italy by Gasparo Campari. Campari is a key ingredient in much-loved cocktails like the Negroni and the lower-ABV Americano and along with more niche drinks like the Giostra d'Alcol. While it’s often a supporting ingredient, I wanted to put it center stage here. After all, Campari has a full, rich flavor with floral, herbal, and citrus notes, and honestly, could the color be more beautiful?
• More Bubbles: Adding more bubbles without adding more booze makes spritzes like this Campari spritz even more refreshing. You can use club soda, grapefruit seltzer, or, if you want to further temper Campari’s bitterness, a grapefruit soda like Ting.
Get out your glass measuring cup—it's time to get started on the Campari mixture. Squeeze your grapefruit wedges into the measuring cup, making sure to get out every single drop that you can.
Add your Campari to the measuring glass, then give the mixture a good stir to combine.
Grab those glasses and divide the juice mixture among them.
Now, it's time to get bubbly! Add your Prosecco on top of your mixture. If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, you can add a bit more Prosecco here.
Top your glasses off with chilled club soda or grapefruit seltzer, being careful not to let those bubbles overflow.
Add a thin grapefruit slice (or two if you've got the room), then fill the rest of the glass with ice. Cheers!
Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.
If you want to get ahead of happy hour, you can make your Campari mixture ahead of time and store in the fridge until ready to use. Don't top with the bubbly until you're ready to serve to avoid it going flat.
(1/2") grapefruit wedges, plus thin slices for serving
Campari, chilled
Prosecco or sparkling wine, chilled
grapefruit seltzer or club soda, chilled
Ice
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