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In the competitive, colorful world of modern mixology, can one trendy cocktail recipe really make a difference? This is a worthy question for any bar or restaurant that wants to level-up the customer experience.
Take the Aperol Spritz—the delightfully photogenic drink. Millennial and Gen-Z drinkers increasingly seek more mindful drinking: a combination of lower ABV drinks (in this case, just 11%) and striking visual appeal (sharability, here, being a powerful motivator).
Instagram-ready Aperol Spritzers are poised for their close-up with this community—splashing menus and feeds with their classy-yet-playful orange hue. As prices go, the aperol spritz commands a high price for such modest ingredients and skill requirements.
For your bar inventory, the aperol spritz is a gateway to premium perceptions, organic buzz, and better margins.
Key Takeaways: The aperol spritz is simple to remember and a snap to mix using the 3-2-1 ratio and PASS method for its three ingredients.
What is an Aperol Spritz?
The aperol spritz is a simple wine-based cocktail (mostly prosecco and the bright, orange aperitif of its name, Aperol) that easily finds its way into the millennial status update and Gen-Z culture debate.
The New York Times recently dubbed the aperol spritz as “not a good drink,” before internet sources snapped back with posts proclaiming that, no, the aperol spritz really “is good.”
What everyone agrees is that the popular cocktail makes waves on so many summer drink lists and spring updates. The aperol spritz cocktail resembles the romantic glow of the perfect sunset, and it’s quite a breeze to make. To whip up this popular hit and profit-friendly recipe, you need only three ingredients (or, four, if you count the cocktail’s garnish):
- Aperol
- Prosseco
- Soda Water
- Citrus Slices
How to Make Aperol Spritzers: Mastering “3-2-1” and “PASS” Methods
At its core, the aperol spritz is:
- 3 parts prosecco (like LaMarco or low-sweetness prosecco styles),
- 2 parts Aperol (with no possible substitute for its flavor and color), and
- 1 part soda water (preferably with an authentic effervescence like Pelligrino or Perrier).
Naturally, this makes the recipe relatively simple to commit to memory and very handy when you need to recommend a satisfying drink for a group at a lively dinner among friends.
To keep quality consistent, give the drink a specific mixing order, and you’re sure to delight the crowd every time. The acronym “PASS” can help you remember the best order of ingredients.
PASS Method
While remembering the ratios of each ingredient, work your way through each letter of the acronym until you wrap up the perfect Spritzer:
- P for Presseco. Adding this ingredient first ensures you can ensure as many Instagram-ready bubbles as possible make their way to the table.
- A for Aperol. Because this aperitif is heavier than prosecco, it will sink gently to the bottom of the glass.
- S for Soda water. “Float” the mixture with 1 part soda water for every 2 parts of Aperol and 3 parts prosecco.
- S for Slices. Garnish up the glass with a slice of orange, grapefruit, or for a premium upsell some dried, candied blood orange.
How to Batch Prepare Aperol Spritzers for Groups
Before you start mixing up large portions of this crowd-pleasing, unique cocktail, remember to chill your prosecco and soda well in advance. Using a measured pouring spout, you can then ensure that no drop of Aperol is wasted through inconsistencies from pour to pour.
Finally, make sure your citrus is sliced and ready to finish glasses as soon as their poured. By keeping ingredients chilled, you will preserve bubbles and make sure that everyone enjoys the crisp, bubbly refreshment with a cool burst of freshness.
Choosing the Right Glassware for the Aperol Spritz
Plan that group events and banquets are ready with all the supplies needed for a “Spritz station.” Then, you can also maximize your inventory management and beverage investment in the fast satisfaction offered by this spritz, strategize the glassware.
For the most part, the least likely glasses to break and the most likely to make impressive photography are the same: balloon glasses. Next to them, stemless tumblers work just fine, though they are more delicate in the hands of drinkers and slightly less appealing for the social update.
Finally, if you can dress up the kitsch mason jar with a sophisticated garnish or presentation, then stay humble, but experiment with other glassware to see how infectious the spritz can strike the average drinker, especially one who wants something not-too-sweet and not-too-dry.
Inventory Efficiency for the Aperol Spritz
Monitor pouring and watch in real-time as your bartenders pour prosecco, soda, and Aperol. With BinWise inventory management, you can automate reordering with the 3-2-1 rule, ensuring your bar never stocks-out of this pleasingly simple drink recipe.
You can also integrate BinWise with your POS system to ensure sales velocity is hitting your bar’s goals while producing accurate revenue calculations, before and after adding spritzers to the menu.
Frequently Asked Questions for Aperol Spritz Recipes
Get to know your options with the aperol spritz for substitute ingredients, the best choices for prosecco, sparkling wine, or soda water, and how to present your new favorite cocktail in the correct glassware.
Can you replace Aperol with Campari?
Negroni Spritzers are technically different cocktails, though it is conceptually aligned with the Aperol variety. Most orders that want an Aperol Spritz won’t be won over by this unexpected substitution.
What is the best prosecco and soda water for a spritz?
Sparkling water, like Pelligrino and Perrier, can upgrade this drink served on the side. Mionetto Prosecco is a strong choice if the bar is looking to balance quality and cost.
If you need a lower cost soda water option, prefer the soda gun. Either way, you might not serve the lower-grade can or plastic bottle with this classy spritz, but it can save you a few dollars if you don’t want the markup.
Which glassware is best for serving the aperol spritz?
Aperol spritzers, because of their bright orange color, look striking in round, stemless glasses.
This curved presentation alludes to their effortless, easy nature and present its layers in the most flattering way.
