Amaro Spritz

Use the classic 3-2-1 spritz ratio to create a sparkling Amaro spritz cocktail! It works with any Italian bitter: try the dark, sweet Meletti for its caramel notes.

Looking for a refreshing, light and carefree fizzy drink? meet him Amaro Spritz! You may be familiar with the famous Aperol Spritz in all its glory on social media. But you don’t need Aperol to make a spritz! No, the classic spritz will work with any Italian bitter: just follow the classic spritz ratio of 3-2-1. Made with our favorite amaro (meletti), it’s golden and tastes almost like cola, with caramelized notes. That’s how it’s done!

What is an Amaro Spritz?

An Amaro Spritz is a cousin of the popular Aperol Spritz, an Italian aperitif (i.e., to drink before a meal). The spritz was invented in Italy in the 19th century to dilute wine by mixing it with… well, water! It wasn’t until the 1950s that the Aperol Spritz took on its current form. It is a cocktail on the International Bartender Association’s list of official IBA cocktails, meaning there is an ‘official’ definition. Amaro Spritz uses any type of Amaro instead of Aperol: which is itself an Amaro (see below). What’s in an Amaro Spritz:

First off, what is Amaro?

amaro is a family of Italian herbal liqueurs with a bitter taste (amaro means bitter in Italian). It includes a wide range of spirits: the most famous is the ultra-bitter Campari. At the other end of the spectrum is Aperol, which is sweet and barely bitter. But there are so many different flavors between the two that you can use to whip up some great amaro cocktails. Alex grabbed a bottle of dark, sweet Meletti for this recipe: and it worked. Here’s why!

Use Meletti or a dark, sweet amaro in this spritz

Campari and Aperol are taken into account amari, which is the plural of amaro if you’re keeping track. This means that the Campari Spritz and the Aperol Spritz are technically also an Amaro Spritz! But for this recipe, Alex and I wanted to change it up a bit and see what a spritz tasted like with something other than the two most popular Italian bitters.

go in Amaro Meletti, a sweet, dark brown Amaro. It’s rich and caramelized, complex and balanced, with flavors ranging from saffron to anise. Make an amaro spritz with Meletti and it’s just amazing! The caramel notes shimmer through and almost taste like cola. Here’s a nice classification of Amaro (from least bitter to most bitter). Other amari recommend: Cynar, Nonino and Averna.

Other beverages related to amaro? Try the delicious Paper Plane or one of our signature Amaro cocktails.

Step it up: try clear ice!

If you really want to overdo your Amaro Spritz, try making clear ice. This ice is crystal clear without the cloudiness of regular ice. You can cut big chunks and they look like a fancy bar! They take this drink to superstar level. All you need is 24 hours and a small cool box! Go to How to make transparent ice.

What is the spray ratio?

The classic spritz ratio is in all spritzers, from the Aperol to this Amaro spritz. The basic idea is 3 parts sparkling wine, 2 parts liqueur, 1 part sparkling water. Once you memorize this ratio (you may already have it!) you can use it to make endless squirt variations. You can make them with any type of liquor except amaro. Here are some other spritz recipes to try:

When to serve an Amaro Spritz

The Amaro Spritz Cocktail is sparkling and refreshing, making it perfect for summer occasions. It’s perfect for sipping as:

• summer drink
• Aperitif (starter)
• Aperitif at aperitif time

More great sparkling cocktails

Here are a few more of our great cocktails to add to your repertoire: