How-To Build a Spritz that’s Unique to You

When it comes to the Spritz, a lot of people just have one version in mind – Aperol + Sparkling + Soda. But here’s the thing, the Spritz can be so much more and can be built to your unique preference. So today I share the Spritz Ratio you should always have in mind, give suggestions on how to swap out ingredients, plus so much more. Learning how to Build a Spritz has never been so much fun and creative.

This topic is so important to be that I even share my How-To on Breakfast Television. If you’d like to catch that segment, make sure you follow the link HERE, or click on the photo below.

The Master Ratio to Build a Spritz

Before I dive into the “Master Ratio” on how-to Build a Spritz, know that this is NOT SET IN STONE. With everything in cocktails and in life, use this advice as a guide. I want to ensure that you build a cocktail that is unique to you and ultimately, a cocktail that YOU love. With that said, here is what I typically recommend in terms of a ratio in building a Spritz:

Let’s break down the simple 3 Categories:

Liquor – This is open to so many suggestions. And by Liquor, I do like to limit it to spirit bottles that are lower than 30% ABV. I believe the essence of a Spritz should be “lower” in alcohol, but again, this doesn’t have to always be the case. Also, this list does not include Liqueurs. I mean, you could use Liqueurs, but you’d have to reduce the ratio of liquor by at least HALF. The best practice here would be the use of Vermouths (All Types), Wine Aperitivos, Aperitifs, Amaros and Sake are all great starts to building a Spritz.

Sparkling – Traditionally we’re going to lean towards a Sparkling Wine / Prosecco. But there are so many varying styles to choose from, plus don’t feel limited to just a Dry style. Pick up a Sparkling Rose or even a Lambrusco. Plus I haven’t even talked about the world of possibility when it comes to Beer.

Soda – This is a great way of adding that final touch to the Spritz. And with Soda, the world is your oyster. Lemon and Grapefruit Soda’s tend to be my preference of choice, but there’s so many great infusions and options out there that you shouldn’t be limited. I would likely stay away from Brio and Coke, but even with Brio, I could see a possibility there. I find light and aromatic will go a long way. And I’ll explain more below.

For this segment, I share some of my favourite combinations and ingredients I like to work with. I will also be sharing 3 unique recipes that uses some of the bottles featured to get you inspired. So let’s go see some of those examples!

Guiding your Spritz by choosing your Base

Many times, I let the Liquor / Spirit Base decide the direction of the Spritz, and I want to break down a few examples for you here:

Light-Bodied Spirit Base

When I talk about Light-Bodied Spirit Bases, I’m talking about a range of spirits. This includes Dry / Blanco Vermouths, Rose Vermouths, Aperitivos, Wine Aperitivos, Sake and I’m sure I’m missing a bunch more. These examples tend to be in the 10% – 30% Alcohol range, and they are NOT considered a liqueur. They’re fairly light and fresh on the palate, typically used in cocktails and a way to lengthen your beverage.

In the case of Dry / Blanco Vermouths, I love them because they have a ton of opportunity to experiment. Mixing with Beer, great. Mixing with a Dry Sparkling Wine, great. Even with a Sparkling Rose, this spirit will shine. What you want to pay attention to is the tasting notes of the Vermouth you’re working with. Say there’s a ton of Vegetal notes to it like green pepper (what you may see in a classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc), you can mix that with a Dry Sparkling Wine, add fresh Green Pepper Slices, along with some Basil and top with Soda, Tonic or any splash of soda flavour you desire.

With Cocchi’s Americano and Rosa, they’ve long been a favourite of mine and with them as a base, you’re guaranteed an AMAZING Spritz. In the case of Cocchi Americano, one of my favourite combinations would be combining fresh lavender and lemons, a splash of elderflower syrup or liqueur, Dry Sparkling Wine, topped with Tonic as the soda.

Monica’s Recommendation: Cocchi Americano + Fresh Lavender + Lemons + Elderflower Syrup / Liqueur + Dry Sparkling Wine + Tonic

Then let’s think about the opposite with the Cocchi Rosa, which has a ton of strawberries and Rhubarb notes on the palate. I would use the Cocchi Rosa, slice fresh Strawberries, add a few Orange Slices and maybe a Cinnamon Stick, with a Dry Sparkling Wine or Rose with Grapefruit Soda.

Monica’s Recommendation: Cocchi Rosa + Strawberries + Orange Wheel + Cinnamon Stick + Dry Sparkling Wine + Grapefruit Soda

There’s also the option of SAKE, which offers so much when it comes to diversity in just its natural form, and then there is of course the influence of infusions. Much like the one I featured on Breakfast Television! This is a Sake made here in Ontario inside the Distillery District. Izumi Sake is a true hidden gem within the city, and this brewery is worth the visit, offering an exemplary tasting of their range in products.

When it comes to the Izumi Yuzu Sake that I use on the show, I love this with either a Dry Sparkling Wine or Beer, with a lemon soda with some fresh herbs. Even a tonic would go so well.

Monica’s Recommendation: Izumi Yuzu Sake + Lemon + Thyme + Dry Sparkling Wine or Beer + Lemon Soda

Full-Bodied Spirit Base

When we think of Spritz, we don’t always lean towards the darker spirit varieties, like a Red Vermouth, Amaro, etc., but trust me when I say, you SHOULD be trying them out. They are already used in this fashion. Think of the classic Americano cocktail that uses Red Vermouth, Campari, topped with Sparkling Soda in a Collin’s glass. So why not have the same approach here?

Now I didn’t feature a Red Vermouth variation in my TV Segment. Instead, I used one of my favourite Amaro’s on the market which is Amara. This is a Blood Orange infused Amaro. It’s surprisingly so bright and fresh on the palate, while still honouring the herbaceous bitters traits you typically get from an Amaro. Not all Amaro’s are the same though. Be mindful that Amaro Nonino vs Montenegro will produce a very different Spritz. You have to be mindful of the ratio when you build a spritz with these styles (aka Montenegro is very heavy on the sweetness, so the ratio should be cut to at least half). Or you can just pick up a bottle of Amara and create this gem I have featured here:

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Amara Spritz

We're using the delicious Amara Blood Orange Amaro in a Spritz that will be game changer this Summer.

– Difficulty: Easy

Servings 1 Cocktail

Author Monica C

Ingredients

• 2 parts Amara
• 3 parts Tawse Sparkling Rose
• 1 part Fever-Tree's Grapefruit Soda
• 1 Orange Wheel
• 3 Strawberries Sliced in half

Instructions

1. Fill your glassware with Orange and Strawberries and ice

2. Add in your sparkling component first, and then add the Amara.

Choosing your Sparkling Option

Now that we’ve briefly gone through the Spirit Base options for a Spritz, let’s go about experimenting with the Sparkling option. Naturally, we gravitate towards the Dry-style Sparkling Wine, Prosecco, option. It allows for the most creativity and can compliment so many varying styles. But it doesn’t have to stop there.

When to use Traditional Sparkling (Dry / Brut style)

With Sparkling Wine (or if you really want, Champagne), the Dry / Brut style approach is one of the easiest to work with. Your options are limitless, it can work with almost all styles of the Spirit Bases I mentioned, and offers a ton of flexibility. So in all honesty, I have no notes for this. The only thing I would say is to lean towards using the Dry Style options, because then you can better control the sugar content in your Spritz.

If for some reason your drink needs that touch of sweetness, that’s okay! Adding a dash of Simple Syrup goes a long way, rather than using a Sweet Sparkling Wine options with an additional sweet Spirit Base Option that you find yourself trying to mask the sweetness with citrus. The example I share with you today is one of my FAVOURITE Niagara Wineries, PERIOD. Say hello to Tawse, and if they’re not a part of your wine portfolio already, they need to be.

When to use Sparkling Rose

YES! Why not use Sparkling Rose? It will help bring in those natural notes of Strawberry and Rhubarb that we love, into the most delicious Spritz creation. Now with Sparkling Rose taking on a bigger role in terms of flavours for a Spritz, be mindful of what you pair it with. Most of the Light-Bodied options I mentioned above would work. I think the Amara I feature in the segment would pair so well because of the Strawberry, Rhubarb and Blood Orange Combo

When to use BEER!

Beer brings a whole other element to a Spritz that I absolutely love and everyone needs to explore. So I’m going to share two very different styles of beer, and when best to use it.

To Build a Spritz with a Wheat Ale, well, there’s a ton of benefits. It’s a great transition, if you’re not the biggest fan of beer. There’s a ton of natural citrus notes in a Belgian Style Wheat Ale that works with the overall essence of a spritz. It’s also very accommodating to a lot of the Base Spirits options I listed above. Now with the Canadian Unibroue’s Blanche de Chambly, it’s such a welcoming option for people. Since Sake is brewed, this felt like a natural combination that would fit well. So I’m sharing a recipe with you below!

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Brewed Wheat and Sake Spritz

Beer and Sake were the combination you didn't know you needed in your life! Made even more pleasant with a splash of Elderflower Syrup.

– Difficulty: Easy

Servings 1 Cocktail

Author Monica C

Ingredients

• 2 oz Izumi's Yuzu Sake
• 3 oz Unibroue's Blanche de Chambly
• 0.5 oz Elderflower Syrup
• 1 oz Soda
• 2 Lemon Wheels
• 1 Basil Leaf Garnish

Instructions

1. In your glassware, add ice and your lemon wheels.

2. Add in your Beer and soda, and top with the Sake and Elderflower Syrup. Give this a small stir.

3. Garnish with Basil Leaf

Build a Spritz with a Lagered Ale

Now the above example is great even for non-beer drinkers. But if you love your Ales, your IPAs, than substituting for Beau’s Lug-Tread Lagered Ale may be the greatest thing you’ve ever done! Again, you can use the same recipe I share above with the Wheat Ale by pairing it off with Sake. But because Lug-Tread has some weight to it in terms of flavour, you can experiment quite a bit. The Vermouths come in handy here, the Cocchi Rosa would be phenomenal in creating a cocktail that LOOKS like an Aperol Spritz, but will taste wildly different. So that’s the recipe I want to share with you here that uses Beau’s Lug-Tread.

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Not-So-Aperol-Beer-Spritz

It's the Beer Spritz you never knew you needed, until you got introduced to Cocchi Rosa and Beau's Lug-Tread. It will look like an Aperol Spritz, but it won't taste like it!

– Difficulty: Easy

Servings 1 Cocktail

Author Monica C

Ingredients

• 2 parts Cocchi Rosa
• 3 parts Beau's Lug-Tread Lagered Ale
• 1 part Grapefruit Soda
• 1 Grapefruit Wheel
• 1 Mint

Instructions

1. Fill your glassware with ice and Grapefruit Wheel.

2. Add your Lagered Ale and Soda, and top with Cocchi Rosa

3. Garnish with Mint.

The Finishing Touches

Sodas

Last, but certainly not least, let’s talk Soda. So Soda plays an important role of creating a balanced cocktail here. It lengthens the Spritz, can add that touch of sweetness when you need it, or help add in a supporting flavour to the overall experience. This you can have full range on. From Grapefruit Sodas, Blood Orange, Ginger Beer, Tonic Waters, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO EXPERIMENT.

Simple Syrups

Now sometimes, you’ve got a ton of dry styled components, that you actually need a dash of Simple Syrup to complete the whole Spritz. Remember, the original Aperol Spritz recipe is perfect because there’s a heavy sugar component in the Aperol. That’s why when I build a Spritz, I like to have some sugar on hand to balance the whole thing.

Simple Syrup is exactly what is says in the name. SIMPLE. The easiest way is to combine 1 part Granulated Sugar, with 1 part Boiled Water, and you stir. That is it! So please don’t feel like you have to step out and buy something. If you have Sugar and Water at home, you can do it. And very quickly too.

There’s also the different types of sugars you can use, or even pick up premium syrups like PROSYRO which has an Elderflower Syrup that will do just the trick. Use DISCOUNT CODE MONICA at checkout for 10% off!

And that’s it folks. My thorough guide of how to Build a Spritz that’s unique to you. And I know I could go on even more about this topic, but we’re going to leave it here. Got questions? Reach out to my socials or email. I’d love to hear from you, your thoughts, and what you create at home!

Want to catch some of my other Segments with Breakfast Television? Head over to this link HERE for all the BT TV action!