13 Genius 1-Ingredient Twists on the Aperol Spritz

01.08.2024 - 13:58 / bhg.com / Karla Walsh

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Cocktail trends come and go, but there are a couple classics you’re pretty much guaranteed to see on every menu at venues that serve mixed drinks in 2024: A martini (espresso, anyone?) and a spritz.

Citrusy, aromatic, and bittersweet Aperol is the most common rendition—but that’s far from your only option. As we mentioned when we crowned the Hugo Spritz the drink of summer last year, the standard spritz formula follows a 3-2-1 format: So for a traditional Aperol Spritz, you combine 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol, and 1 part club soda or seltzer water.

If you keep that 3-2-1 formula in mind—and remember that there are no set rules when it comes to spritzing—you’ll realize that there’s plenty of room to play around. (The floral and lime-spiked Hugo showcases this beautifully.)

And now is the time to do so, as we're in the midst of spritz season. If you've found yourself getting a bit tired of that classic Aperol combo, we’re here to pour out some inspiration to help you give it a remix.

When you’re ready for a break, substitute it with one of the mixologist-approved options below—all you have to do is swap out the Aperol for the designated ingredient. After sharing 13 Aperol alternatives, we’ll also reveal other ways to customize your spritz with other ingredients besides Prosecco, sparkling water, and orange slices.

According to Mariel Burns, beverage consultant at Adrienne’s in Queens, New York, as long as you keep that easy formula in mind and enjoy the flavor of the finished product, “no combination is wrong! Have fun and play around with your cocktails.” She recommends doctoring up a single spritz with a half-and-half mix of two aperitivos that have complementary flavors (think: Limoncello and