A classic-style Aperol Spritz uses 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part soda water. For one drink, start with 90 ml Prosecco, 60 ml Aperol and 30 ml soda, build over plenty of ice and garnish with orange.
In this guide
An Aperol Spritz combines Aperol, sparkling wine and soda water over plenty of ice.
It is one of the simplest cocktails to make at home, but the balance still matters. Too much Aperol can dominate, too much soda can make the drink feel thin, and warm or poorly carbonated sparkling wine can leave the whole thing feeling flat.
The familiar 3-2-1 ratio is an excellent place to start, but it is a starting point rather than a rule you can never adjust.
Quick answer
A reliable Aperol Spritz uses:
- 90 ml Prosecco
- 60 ml Aperol
- 30 ml soda water
- Plenty of ice
- Orange slice or half-wheel, for garnish
Build the drink directly in a large wine glass over plenty of cold ice, integrate gently if needed and serve immediately.
This is the popular 3-2-1 Aperol Spritz ratio: 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part soda water.
Aperol Spritz recipe
Ingredients
- 90 ml Prosecco
- 60 ml Aperol
- 30 ml soda water
- Plenty of ice
- Orange slice or half-wheel
Makes: 1 cocktail
Equipment
- Large wine glass
- Jigger
- Bar spoon, optional
If you are setting up your first home bar, see What Cocktail Tools Do You Actually Need?.
Method
- Fill a large wine glass generously with cold ice.
- Add the Prosecco and Aperol.
- Add the soda water.
- Give the drink a brief, gentle stir if needed.
- Garnish with an orange slice or half-wheel.
- Serve immediately.
The ingredient order can vary. The important things are keeping the drink cold, preserving the carbonation and integrating the ingredients without unnecessary agitation.
What is an Aperol Spritz?
An Aperol Spritz is a sparkling aperitivo-style cocktail built from:
- Aperol
- sparkling wine, traditionally Prosecco
- soda water
- ice
- an orange garnish
It is usually built directly in the serving glass rather than shaken or prepared in a separate mixing vessel.
What is the 3-2-1 Aperol Spritz ratio?
The 3-2-1 ratio means:
- 3 parts Prosecco
- 2 parts Aperol
- 1 part soda water
For one drink, that becomes:
- 90 ml Prosecco
- 60 ml Aperol
- 30 ml soda water
It is an easy ratio to remember and a very useful starting point.
It is not the only way to balance an Aperol Spritz.
What should an Aperol Spritz taste like?
A well-balanced Aperol Spritz should give you a combination of:
- bittersweet citrus character
- sparkling wine freshness
- lively carbonation
- a lighter finish from the soda
The Aperol should remain easy to identify without completely overpowering the sparkling wine.
If you prefer the drink lighter, drier or more bitter, you can adjust the ratio rather than treating 3-2-1 as compulsory.
How much Aperol should you use?
60 ml is a useful starting amount when paired with 90 ml Prosecco and 30 ml soda.
Using more Aperol creates a more intense bittersweet profile.
Using less creates a lighter drink where the sparkling wine becomes more prominent.
How much Prosecco should you use?
90 ml is the starting amount in the 3-2-1 recipe.
As the largest component, the sparkling wine contributes much of the drink's:
- volume
- acidity
- fruit character
- carbonation
What Prosecco should you use?
You do not need an expensive bottle.
Look for a Prosecco you enjoy drinking on its own and whose level of sweetness works with your preferred Spritz balance.
A relatively dry style is an easy place to start because Aperol already contributes sweetness and bittersweet flavour.
Different bottles vary, so the best choice is not one specific label or sweetness category for everyone.
Can you use Champagne in an Aperol Spritz?
Yes.
Champagne creates a different variation of the drink and may introduce a different balance of acidity, fruit, toastiness or dryness depending on the bottle.
It is not required and is not automatically better than Prosecco.
Can you use another sparkling wine?
Yes.
Alternatives can include:
- Cava
- Australian sparkling wine
- other sparkling wines you enjoy
The exact flavour of the Spritz will change with the wine, but the basic structure still works.
What soda water should you use?
Plain, relatively neutral soda water is the easiest choice.
Strongly flavoured sparkling waters can change the cocktail considerably, which may be useful if intentional but is not necessary for the standard recipe.
How much soda water should you use?
30 ml is the 3-2-1 starting amount.
More soda creates a lighter, longer drink.
Less soda creates a richer serve where the Aperol and sparkling wine remain more concentrated.
Too much can eventually make the cocktail taste thin.
Does an Aperol Spritz need soda water?
The familiar three-part Aperol Spritz structure includes soda water.
You can certainly combine Aperol and sparkling wine without it, but the result becomes a somewhat different two-component serve rather than the usual Prosecco-Aperol-soda structure.
That variation is not wrong. It is simply different.
What glass should you use for an Aperol Spritz?
A large wine glass is the most practical choice.
It gives you enough room for:
- plenty of ice
- the full drink
- an orange garnish
You can also use another suitably sized glass if that is what you have.
See How to Choose Cocktail Glassware.
Can you use a rocks glass or highball?
Yes, provided the glass has enough capacity for the drink and ice.
The appearance changes, but the underlying cocktail can still work perfectly well.
How much ice should you use?
Use plenty of cold, solid ice.
There is no need to count a specific number of cubes.
The glass should contain enough ice to keep the drink properly chilled while still leaving room for the cocktail.
Normal freezer ice works perfectly well.
See How Much Ice Should You Use in a Cocktail? and Large Ice vs Standard Ice: Does Ice Size Matter?.
Should you build or shake an Aperol Spritz?
Build it directly in the serving glass.
The drink already contains carbonated ingredients, so there is no useful reason to shake the finished Spritz.
Building keeps the process simple and avoids unnecessary agitation.
See What Is Building a Cocktail?.
Should you stir an Aperol Spritz?
A brief, gentle stir can help integrate the ingredients if needed.
There is no reason to stir aggressively or follow a rigid number of rotations.
Once the components are reasonably combined, serve the drink.
Does ingredient order matter?
Some common workflows add:
- ice
- Prosecco
- Aperol
- soda water
Other sequences can work too.
The practical goals are more important than insisting on one order:
- keep everything cold
- avoid unnecessary agitation
- maintain good proportions
- integrate the drink gently
Should Prosecco go in first?
It commonly does, but it is not a universal requirement.
You can make an excellent Aperol Spritz using another sensible build sequence.
Should soda water go in last?
Often.
Adding it toward the end makes it easy to finish the drink and integrate everything gently.
Again, treat this as a practical workflow rather than a rule.
How do you keep an Aperol Spritz fizzy?
Useful habits include:
- use chilled Prosecco
- use chilled soda where practical
- avoid aggressive stirring
- pour carbonated ingredients carefully
- use plenty of cold ice
- serve promptly
A Spritz does not require delicate laboratory handling. Simply avoid unnecessary agitation and long delays before serving.
Why is my Aperol Spritz too bitter?
Possible causes include:
- more Aperol than you personally enjoy
- not enough sparkling wine
- not enough soda for your preferred style
Try adding a little more sparkling wine or soda, then adjust the starting ratio next time.
Why is my Aperol Spritz too sweet?
Possible causes include:
- a sweeter sparkling wine
- a ratio that feels too Aperol-forward for your palate
- not enough dryness or acidity elsewhere in the drink
You can experiment with:
- a drier sparkling wine
- slightly more sparkling wine
- a little more soda
- slightly less Aperol
Why is my Aperol Spritz watery?
Possible causes include:
- too much soda water
- the drink sitting for too long
- melting ice over time
- too little Aperol and sparkling wine relative to the total volume
Do not automatically blame the amount of ice.
See Why Is My Cocktail Too Watery or Too Strong?.
Why does my Aperol Spritz taste flat?
Possible causes include:
- sparkling wine that has lost much of its carbonation
- weakly carbonated soda
- warm ingredients
- excessive agitation
- letting the finished drink sit for too long
Using chilled, lively sparkling ingredients and serving promptly makes a noticeable difference.
Why does my Aperol Spritz taste too strong?
You may simply prefer:
- less Aperol
- more sparkling wine
- more soda
It can also come from inaccurate measurements.
Adjust the ratio rather than assuming the standard recipe has to suit every palate.
How to make a less bitter Aperol Spritz
Reduce the Aperol slightly and increase the sparkling wine or soda.
For example, you could try:
- 3 parts Prosecco
- 1.5 parts Aperol
- 1 part soda
That is simply an adjustment for preference, not a replacement for the 3-2-1 starting point.
How to make it more Aperol-forward
You can increase the Aperol slightly while keeping the other components balanced.
For example:
- 3 parts Prosecco
- 2.5 parts Aperol
- 1 part soda
This creates a more intense bittersweet style and also changes the drink's overall alcoholic strength.
More Aperol is not automatically better. It is simply another balance.
Aperol Spritz vs Campari Spritz
A Campari Spritz uses a different bitter aperitivo and produces a noticeably different flavour profile.
Campari-based versions are generally more assertively bitter than the familiar Aperol version, although exact balance still depends on the recipe.
The same broad spritz structure can be used, but the drinks should not be expected to taste identical.
Aperol Spritz vs Hugo Spritz
A Hugo Spritz belongs to the same broad sparkling spritz family but uses a different flavour structure, commonly involving elderflower alongside sparkling wine and soda, often with mint and citrus depending on the recipe.
It is a separate cocktail rather than another name for an Aperol Spritz.
Can you make an Aperol Spritz without Prosecco?
Yes.
Use another sparkling wine you enjoy.
The flavour will change depending on the wine, but the drink can still retain the basic Aperol-sparkling-water structure.
Can you make it without soda water?
Yes, as a variation.
Aperol and sparkling wine alone can still make an enjoyable drink, but it will be more concentrated and moves away from the familiar three-part Spritz structure.
Can sparkling water replace soda water?
Usually, if it is plain and relatively neutral.
Terminology varies between products and markets, so focus on using a clean-tasting carbonated water that suits the drink.
What garnish should you use?
An orange slice or half-wheel is the familiar choice.
It works visually and reinforces the citrus character of the drink.
The garnish remains optional.
Can you garnish with lemon?
Yes.
Lemon creates a different citrus aroma and is a perfectly reasonable variation if that is what you prefer or have available.
Can you batch an Aperol Spritz?
Yes, but carbonation means the final assembly is best kept close to serving.
Batch for eight drinks
- 720 ml Prosecco
- 480 ml Aperol
- 240 ml soda water
Those measurements reproduce the 3-2-1 ratio for eight serves.
A practical party workflow is:
- Chill all ingredients thoroughly.
- Keep the Aperol ready separately or pre-measured.
- Keep the sparkling wine and soda cold until needed.
- Fill each serving glass with fresh ice.
- Build each drink or a small group of drinks close to serving.
- Add soda and garnish near the end.
Avoid leaving a fully assembled pitcher of carbonated Spritz sitting over ice for a long period, where carbonation and dilution will continue changing.
Can you make an Aperol Spritz without ice?
You can, but ice is a major part of the familiar serving style.
It keeps the drink cold while you sip and contributes to how the cocktail gradually changes in the glass.
If you omit it, start with very cold ingredients and expect a somewhat different drinking experience.
Common Aperol Spritz mistakes
Using too little ice
Give the drink enough cold ice to stay properly chilled.
Adding too much soda
Soda should lengthen the drink rather than wash out its flavour.
Using more Aperol than you enjoy
Adjust the ratio to your palate.
Using warm sparkling wine
Start with chilled ingredients where practical.
Stirring aggressively
The drink only needs gentle integration.
Letting it sit too long
Temperature, dilution and carbonation all continue changing.
Using sparkling wine that has lost its fizz
The sparkling component needs enough carbonation to give the drink its lively character.
Filling an oversized glass just to make it look full
Follow the intended proportions rather than adding unnecessary mixer.
Treating 3-2-1 as mandatory
It is a starting point that can be adjusted.
Treating one ingredient order as sacred
Good technique matters more than memorising one sequence.
Simple drinks still reward attention
An Aperol Spritz has very few ingredients, which makes it a useful cocktail for learning balance.
You can immediately taste what happens when you change the proportions, temperature, carbonation or dilution.
Cocktail Playbook's beginner cocktail course teaches the same kind of judgement across shaking, stirring, building and classic recipes so you understand why a drink works rather than simply memorising measurements.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Aperol Spritz ratio?
A popular starting point is 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part soda water.
How do you make an Aperol Spritz?
Build 90 ml Prosecco, 60 ml Aperol and 30 ml soda water over plenty of ice in a large wine glass, integrate gently if needed and garnish with orange.
What Prosecco should I use?
Choose a bottle you enjoy drinking and whose sweetness level suits your preferred Spritz balance. A relatively dry style is an easy starting point.
Can I use Champagne?
Yes. It creates a different variation and is not necessary for a good Spritz.
Can I use another sparkling wine?
Yes. Cava, Australian sparkling wine and other sparkling wines can work.
How much Aperol should I use?
Start with 60 ml in a 3-2-1 recipe and adjust according to taste.
How much soda water should I use?
Start with 30 ml. More creates a lighter drink, while less creates a more concentrated one.
Do I need soda water?
It is part of the familiar three-part Aperol Spritz structure, although an Aperol-and-sparkling-wine variation can still be enjoyable without it.
Should Prosecco or Aperol go in first?
Prosecco first is a common workflow, but there is no universal requirement.
Do you stir an Aperol Spritz?
A brief gentle stir is useful if the drink needs help integrating.
Should you shake an Aperol Spritz?
No. It is normally built directly in the serving glass, avoiding unnecessary agitation of the carbonated ingredients.
What glass should I use?
A large wine glass is the most practical and familiar choice.
How much ice should I use?
Use plenty of cold, solid ice rather than counting a fixed number of cubes.
Why is my Aperol Spritz too bitter?
You may prefer less Aperol, more sparkling wine or slightly more soda.
Why is it too sweet?
The sparkling wine may be relatively sweet or the drink may be too Aperol-forward for your preference.
Why is it watery?
Possible causes include too much soda, prolonged melting ice or a weak overall ratio.
Why is it flat?
The sparkling ingredients may have lost carbonation, started too warm or the finished drink may have sat for too long.
Can I make it less bitter?
Yes. Reduce the Aperol slightly and increase the sparkling wine or soda.
Can I make it without Prosecco?
Yes. Another sparkling wine can be substituted, although the flavour will change.
Can I batch Aperol Spritzes?
Yes. Keep everything chilled and assemble the carbonated components close to serving rather than leaving the finished drinks sitting for a long time.
What garnish should I use?
An orange slice or half-wheel is the familiar choice.
Related Guides
- What Is Building a Cocktail?
- How to Choose Cocktail Glassware
- How Much Ice Should You Use in a Cocktail?
- Large Ice vs Standard Ice: Does Ice Size Matter?
- Why Is My Cocktail Too Watery or Too Strong?
- Shake vs Stir: When Should You Shake or Stir a Cocktail?
- What Cocktail Tools Do You Actually Need?
- How to Build a Home Bar for Beginners
