Name: Venetian Spritz
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 60 ml Prosecco; 40 ml Red bitter liqueur; 20 ml Soda water

Ingredients

2 fl oz

Fiol Extra Dry Prosecco

1 ¹⁄₃ fl oz

Italian red bitter liqueur

²⁄₃ fl oz

Thomas Henry Soda Water

How to make

Glass

Prepare

Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.

Prepare garnish of orange zest twist and skewered green olive.

Method

POUR all ingredients into ice-filled glass.

Briefly STIR so as not to lose fizz.

Garnish

EXPRESS orange zest twist over cocktail and discard.

Garnish with skewered olive.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Venetian Spritz contains 135 calories

Alcohol content:

0.9 standard drinks
10.89% alc./vol. (21.78° proof)
13.1 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Prosecco sparkling wine — Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

Gallery

Comments & Discussion

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Simon Waldmeier 3w

According to the Italian Wikipedia, the proportions are 7.5 cl wine, 5 cl Select bitter, 2.5 cl sparkling water. I don't know where to get Select here in Switzerland, so I found it an inspiring idea to use Campari-style bitter instead, or simply Campari. Prepared like this, the drink reminds me a lot of the Negroni, just less strong and complex.

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 3w

Yes, as per the recipe above, the classic proportions are 3:2:1.

Simon Waldmeier 1w

You're right, the proportions are the same, my bad.🤦 But BTW, I shouldn't have underestimated my favourite liquor store in Berne! I just wanted to buy a small bottle of Noilly Prat for the Gin Salad Dry Martini and per chance I discovered that they've also got Select! Now with this bitter the drink has a more unique flavour, less similar to a Negroni. For me the latter is strongly characterised by the unmistakable aroma of Campari, though it's of course acceptable to use other, similar products. Select is quite a bit different, in particular it's less bitter and less sweet, so milder overall, and in the nose it differs, too, but I can't pinpoint it exactly, it's complex. But it lets the Pinot Grigio shine through as well. (I don't know how Strucchi bitter compares to Campari.)

Simon Difford Continue thread (1 reply)

Ben Y Premium Member 6w

I agree a Venetian Spritz is better with a base of an acidic white wine and a splash of soda. I find the result to be more refreshing. I think in Venice some 20 years ago, at the places our venetian friends frequented, the barkeepers asked whether wine or prosecco was desired. I am not sure, but also think something less sweet than Aperol and maybe also less bitter-sweet than Campari was used - probably Select.

I think the (Aperol/Campari/Cynar) Spritz in its now ubiquitous form (Prosecco base and 3:2:1 ratio) without question has its place. Its immense popularity has given it quite the cultural impact, from the current hype for mediterranean-inspired aperitivo culture (no shade, I love it) to the creation of variations.
Probably this is a case where it makes sense to have the different entries? The traditional venetian one, the Campari Company one that found such broad international appeal, and maybe even a third, Difford® one with adjusted measures?
It may be interesting to experiment with measures in a spritz and bases of verious wines, with splashes of soda and/or prosecco, or half/half wine/prosecco base and soda splash...
For Science!

Marek Vranka 6w

made with pinot grigio, cynar & soda, 60/25/25 and liked it better than the proseco & campari version

Simon Sedgley Premium Member 1y

Not being big fans of red bitter liqueur, we went with Orange Colombo instead, and added a couple of dashes of Orange Bitters. We also upped the Prosecco a tad at the expense of the soda. Our elderly, favourite aunt loved it, bless her.

Matt Premium Member 1y

Pretty good, but isn't as good as an Americano IMO. I think that I'd use the prosecco in a cocktail I enjoy more (like the White Negroni Sbagliato).

Vincenzo 1y

Try both, Campari and Select. Similar but different. The Campari version is the snobbish relative that will look you up and down at Xmas lunch. The Select version is the crazy uncle who takes you from one seedy bar to the next in the backstreets of Venezia. You will love both, just in different ways.

John CARR Premium Member 1y

Had the remainder of a bottle of Pinot Grigio, so was able to sample this variation, with a fresh bottle of select. Very nice! I added a splash more soda water for the extra fizz.