Aperol Spritz

Ah, my revered circle of effervescent epicures, shall we traverse the sun-dappled piazzas of Italia, where the air kisses your cheek and the zest for life is matched only by the zest in your glass? The Aperol Spritz, a libation as vibrant and buoyant as a Venetian carnival, it serenades the senses with a melody of bitterness and sweet, a symphony of effervescence that dances like the light on the canals at sunset.

Ingredients

• 3 oz (90 ml) Prosecco, the laughter of the gods, bottled in the rolling hills of the Veneto.
• 2 oz (60 ml) Aperol, a liqueur as enigmatic as a Carnevale mask, its allure in its bittersweet complexity.
• 1 oz (30 ml) soda water, the whisper of the Mediterranean breeze through the cypress trees.
• Ice, the alabaster cubes that cool the passions, yet preserve the flame.
• An orange slice, for garnish, the sunset itself captured in a crescent, a homage to the beauty of the end of day.

Directions

1. In a glass that has been caressed by the warmth of the afternoon sun, fill with ice, as generous as the Italian spirit.
2. Pour over the Prosecco, a cascade of golden laughter, as effervescent as the conversation at a Florentine feast.
3. Add the Aperol, a ribbon of dusk weaving through the effulgence, the perfect balance of sweetness and aperitif bitterness.
4. Top with soda water, a kiss of lightness, as if to lift the spirit to the heavens.
5. Garnish with an orange slice, a wheel of sunshine, a reminder of the day’s joy and the promise of the evening’s mystery.

Tips

• Prosecco selection is paramount; choose one that sings with a lightness of being, yet carries the depth of the region’s ancient vines.
• The Aperol should not be drowned but celebrated, allowed to shine in its unique role as the star of the show.
• The soda water is the breath of the drink, invigorating the mixture with a freshness that whispers of the sea.

Calories & Alcohol

In our closing, my dearest aficionados of the aperitivo, the Aperol Spritz is not merely a cocktail; it is an invocation of joy, a celebration of the moment, a toast to the dolce vita that lies within each sip, each bubble, a reminder that life, in all its complexity, is to be savored.

As we bid arrivederci to our Italian sojourn, let it be known that this vessel of vivacity and verve contains approximately 154 calories, with an alcohol content that gracefully flutters at about 1 standard drinks (1.7 AU). A modest homage to the art of living well and with gusto.