A mediterranean variant to the spritz
The Spritz is a popular cocktail that originated in Northern Italy. With so many influencers posting insta shots pretending to enjoy it, it’s no wonder how this drink got to become so popular. The spritz is typically made with a base of sparkling wine, such as Prosecco, combined with a bitter liqueur, like Aperol or Campari, and a splash of soda water. To me this drink is perhaps a bit too vanilla… So I wanted a citrussy counterpart with a bit more kick to it a better range of flavours.
Let’s start off with the ingredients
- 2 oz gin (better have a citrus forward one such as Vovis or Portofino (if you wanna be fancy), or alternatively Bombay, Tanquery, or Malfy con Limone).
- 1 oz Fiorente elderflower liqueur (or any other elderflower liqueur such as St. Germain)
- 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2-3 dashes of orange bitters
- Prosecco or any dry sparkling wine
- Soda water
- Plenty of Ice
- Lemon or lime twist for garnish
And now for the preparation
- Fill a wine glass or a large balloon glass with ice cubes.
- Add 2 ounces of gin, 1 ounce of elderflower liqueur, and 1/2 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the glass.
- Enhance the citrus notes with 2-3 dashes of orange bitters (you can skip this step if you’re not a fan).
- Give the mixture a gentle stir to combine the flavors.
- Top off the cocktail with Prosecco (or any dry sparkling wine) until the glass is about three-quarters full.
- Finish the cocktail with a splash of soda water to add a light and fizzy touch.
- Garnish this Elderflower Spritz with a twist of lemon or lime.
The elderflower spritz is a unique variation of the classic spritz, incorporating the floral and sweet notes of elderflower liqueur with the botanical complexity of gin. The addition of lemon juice and optional orange bitters provides a tangy twist, making it a refreshing and perfect sip for these hellish summer days.