When you think of "spritzes," you like begin to imaging sipping Aperol Spritzes in Venice. But did you know the spritz, while made popular in Italy, has Austrian-German origins? Read on for 5 fun facts about the spritz + the AVEC teams fave AVEC spritzes.
- The spritz started in 1900's Austria during the Habsburg Empire when people would soften Northern Italian wine by "spritzing" the drink with sparkling water.
- An aperitif (like Aperol or St. Germain) is the type of drink that one drinks in the Italian cultural ritual aperitivo, or basically post-work/pre-dinner drinks.
- Aperol is made according to a secret recipe that has remained unchanged since 1919.
- Campari owns Aperol, despite the aperitifs not being necessarily interchangeable.
- Although The New York Times bravely declared that the aperol spritz is not a good drink, The Internet-At-Large seems to disagree based on the amount of spritz photos we are seeing on Instagram this summer.
At AVEC, we give respect and admiration to the light and bubbly spritzes of the world. Here are our favorite AVEC spritzes:
One of our founders, Alex, loves to picture himself tanning in Capri with a Campari AVEC Spritz in hand.
Campari AVEC
2 oz. Campari
2 oz. Prosecco (optional)
avec
6 oz. AVEC Grapefruit & Pomelo
Wedge of grapefruit for garnish
Pour Campari. Add Prosecco, if desired. Add AVEC. Stir. Garnish with grapefruit.
Our other founder, Dee, prefers a more tart and punchy spritz than the sweetened bitter taste of a traditional Aperol Spritz so she mixes St. Germain with AVEC Hibiscus & Pomegranate.
St. Germain AVEC Spritz
2 oz. St. Germain
2 oz. Prosecco
avec
2 oz. AVEC Hibiscus & Pomegranate
Squeeze of lime
Pour St. Germain.
Add Prosecco.
Stir. Top with AVEC. Squeeze lime.
Major, our marketing manager, craves a boozy version of our Spritz Life made with Lyre's Italian Orange Spirit which acts like a zero-proof aperitif.
A (boozy) Spritz Life
2 oz. Gin
2 oz. Lyre's Italian Orange Spirit
avec
4 oz. AVEC Grapefruit & Pomelo
Slices of grapefruit for garnish
Pour preferred gin over ice. Add Lyre's. Add AVEC. Stir. Add grapefruit.
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