Summer is the time for cold soft drinks, pink and white wines, and, of course, cocktails. As an introduction to an article dedicated to one of the most popular cocktails, here is a list of the most famous and consumed cocktails in the world:
- Mojito
- Margarita
- Old Fashioned
- Pina Colada
- Martini
- Cosmopolitan
- Negroni
- 8Daiquiri
- Manhattan
- Spritz
Despite the fact that Spritz is only in tenth place, there are many variations:
- The immortal classic – Aperol Spritz
- Also almost a classic, even a competitor – Campari Spritz
- A less known version of the red shade is Select Spritz (or Venetian Spritz)
- A whole series of cocktails based on Amaro bitter liqueurs
- Averna
- Cynar
- Veccio Amaro del Capo
- Amaro Montenegro
- Options with citrus flavors:
- Italicus Spritz
- Limoncello Spritz
- Lemon Spritz
- Sweeter floral Hugo Spritz
- More local options with local liqueurs or aperitifs
- Spritzer – an analogue with still wine instead of sparkling wine
- With fruit juice instead of liqueur…
… the number of options and flavors is limited only by the bartender’s imagination. You might even think that a spritz is ultimately a sparkling wine (not even prosecco) with some kind of filler.
Different liqueurs – a difference in taste
The first three options – based on Aperol, Campari and Select – are distinguished by the balance between bitterness and sweetness, which is achieved by using one group of ingredients with some differences. In the next article, I will describe these three cocktails in more detail, but I can already say that the spritz based on Campari is the bitterest and the strongest. The other two are sweeter, but the sweetness of Aperol resembles an orange, and Select – rhubarb.
Amaro-based cocktails are distinguished by their pronounced bitterness and sweetness, with wider variations in taste, since recipes can include different combinations of ingredients – herbs, dried fruits, etc.
Citrus cocktails are different types of lemon in the taste (depending on the liqueur used), or bergamot in Italicus. Here, acidity and sweetness are balanced.
Hugo Spritz is a cocktail based on Saint Germain liqueur, which is made from elderflowers, with a delicate taste, but a more pronounced sweetness.
From local spritz – a version with Bordeaux aperitif Lilet.
In other words, Spritz is a multifaceted cocktail, in which it is fashionable to try local liqueurs and aperitifs, considering that in their pure form they are an acquired taste.
Is it necessary to choose prosecco for a spritz cocktail?
Not at all. Prosecco is a classic of the genre and a canonical component for this cocktail, the main taste of which is due to the liqueur. Moreover, in the cocktail itself, the delicate notes of sparkling wine will be completely hidden by the more pronounced taste of the liqueur. Sparkling wine in a spritz is not needed to make its bouquet more complex, but to dilute, in a good sense, the bright taste of the liqueur, to make the sweetness less pronounced, and the bitterness more delicate and light. Therefore, it does not matter at all whether your cocktail contains prosecco, cremant, cava, sekt or even champagne, you still will not notice the difference.
Then why is the prosecco option considered an indisputable rule? Spritz is an Italian cocktail, a classic drink for aperitivo, and prosecco is an inexpensive and simple Italian sparkling wine, one of the Italian wines with the largest production volume, i.e. just what you need for a cocktail where sparkling wine doesn’t play a big role.
So feel free to replace prosecco with any other available option.
