Oh Aperol, how I love thee, let me count the ways. There are so many...
I'll start by saying I never used to like it, it was always too bitter for me but then one day my eyes were opened and I've never looked back since. My initial plan was to do a cocktail recipe for Aperol but that seems a bit ridiculous given that it's very easy to make so instead I did a bit of research on Aperol Spritz and thought I'd share my learnings.
According to Wikpedia (the eternal source of truth) both the idea of a 'Spritz' was born around 1800 during the Hapsberg domination of Veneto (the county of Venice.) It would seem the wine of Veneto was too strong for the invading Germans and they had to ask the local merchants for a drop of water, a 'spritzen' if you will, with their Italian wine. Slowly throughout the turn of the century this then evolved into 'white wine' spritzers as we know today, wine with a dash of soda or water with ice, eventually then becoming known with local bitters.
Aperol itself wasn't created until 1919, by the Barbieri brothers in Padua and even then didn't gain popularity until the post war period. Veneto and northern Italy was the height of sophistication and the Aperol Spritz became society's drink of choice. But not as we know it today, initially it was mixed with flat wine, ice and soda - definitely one to try and see how it goes.
The shift to prosecco came around the 1970's, as many experimented for a lighter pairing with the Aperol and from there The Aperol Spritz was born. Skip forward a few years and the Aperol company was sold to Campari, giving it access to global advertising budgets. Clever marketers then positioned the Aperol Spritz as the ultimate aperativo, instantly delivering sunshine in a glass to all who drink it.
I'm writing this post in mid-March and with spring just around the corner. This is my favourite time of year as the evenings get longer, the days get warmer and it's now acceptable to bring back 4pm Friday Aperols on le terrace.
I didn't choose the Spritz life, the spritz life chose me.
Whilst we don't currently have an Aperol Spritz poster, maybe watch this space as I get inspired after countless glasses over summer. In the meantime check out our cocktail prints and posters here.