Tag Archives: campari

Warm Weather means Cool Spritzes

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Warmer weather always ushers in the season of the Spritz. It’s just goes hand in hand with the higher degrees outside. For me, it also brings up memories of Italy and good times. But it’s not just me. I was out for a girls’ night the other evening and I saw two ladies enjoying a spritz or two. They were having them in the normal big bulbous gin glasses and not the one I used for mine in this picture. The glass is less important than the ingredients.

The one pictured is a Campari Spritz. Which I love. But I have been known to enjoy other spritzes as well. The Spritz is great using Aperol instead of the Campari making it an Aperol Spritz. You can used St. Germain and make an elderflower spritz. Bonus points if you make it in their carafe with the proportions written on the outside. There is a new kid on the block, a bergamot- savory orange- forward liqueur called Italicus, which makes a pretty good spritz as well. I prefer the Italicus Spritz with gin to tame the sweetness. And lastly, my cocktail club–Shaker & Spoon–have a spritz called the Myrtle Spritz made with spiced blueberry syrup. No matter which spritz you chose, it is sure to be refreshing.

Campari Spritz

  • 1.5 oz Campari
  • 2 oz Prosecco/Sparkling White Wine
  • Splash of Sparkling water/Soda water/Fizzy water
  • garnish with a slice of orange and a green olive

Add the Campari and the Prosecco to a gin glass. Add green olive and stir. Top with ice cubes. Add splash of Sparkling water. Put orange slice along the side of the glass. Add a straw. Give it a small stir. Enjoy!

You can substitute Aperol,/St. Germain/ Italicus+Gin for the Campari in the recipe above. I would start with the same proportions and then add or subtract depending on your palate and whether you like it sweeter, more bitter forward, etc. With the St. Germain and Italicus+Gin, I would leave off the olive as a garnish. And maybe play around with some cool bitters. A peach one or a juicy orange one. Lots of new ones on the market out there. There is no end to the experimentation possible. And a whole Spring, Summer, and Fall in which to try things out.

Cool Summer Drinks

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Here are some delicious summer drink recipes. Some have more alcohol, some have less. They are all refreshing. I will share some more as the summer goes on. lol

Campari Spritz

I had this a lot when I took a month touring Italy. It is light and freshing. Plus, it’s low in alcohol but high in bubbles. A perfect combo, yeah?

1 part Campari
3 parts prosecco
1 part soda water

Put into a wine glass. You can garnish with oranges or ruby red grapefruit slices. Yumm.

 

White Wine Sangria

Most people have had red wine sangria. But for summertime, white wine sangria is the way to go, especially if you live in warmer areas. And that’s saying something cause I am a red wine drinker. Don’t get me wrong, I like red wine sangria just fine. But the white wine one is really, really refreshing.

 

 

Ingredients:

1 bottle of Riesling or Gewurztraminer
1 bottle Vihno Verde or Sauvignon Blanc
1 can pineapple/oj frozen concentrate (not the little ones but a big one or you can use two little ones)
juice of one orange plus slices
juice of one lemon plus slices
juice of one lime plus slices
2 oz brandy
4 oz Cointreau or Grand Marnier
1 liter ginger ale or club soda or italian lemonade

lots of summer fruits cut up- green apples, strawberries, pomegranate seeds, mixed berries, etc.

Put all of the liquid into a large container or punch bowl, add citrus slices and cut up fruit. Viola white wine sangria. Let it sit for a bit for better fruity flavor. If you are going to let it sit, leave out the fizzy part(ginger ale et. al) until right before serving.

 

Blackberry Vodka Fizz

I saw this recipe using bourbon. I’m not a big bourbon drinker. So I substituted Vodka. It was still pretty good.

4-5 blackberries
1-2 oz vodka or bourbon
ginger ale
club soda

Muddle the blackberries with a little ice. Add vodka then fill 3/4 way with ginger ale. Add club soda until glass is full.