Italicus Spritz

The Italicus Spritz cocktail is super yummy for hot summer days! It's really simple -- three ingredients, with a no-fuss garnish. But this drink has a delicious depth and its flavor is unmatched! The salty green olive garnish gives a nice balance to the sweet and citrusy bergamot-flavored liqueur. And of course, you can't beat bubbly Prosecco!

Spritz cocktails are some of the most refreshing ones out there, and super easy to make! Just remember the 3-2-1 formula of the Amaro Spritz: 3 ounces Prosecco, 2 ounces of liqueur and 1 ounce of seltzer.

The spritz cocktail recipe might be simple, but you can make each one stand out with an eye catching garnish! Try out the Lillet Spritz, the Hugo Spritz or the Negroni Spritz for some delicious summer drink options.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients needed for this refreshing cocktail:

• Italicus - Italicus bergamot liqueur brings citrusy, herbal and floral flavor notes to the drink.
• Prosecco - the Italian version of Champagne! This bubbly wine is normally sweeter and less yeasty than Champagne or Cava.
• Seltzer - this sparkling water gives a little more bubbles and makes it a little bit lighter to drink.
• Green olives - these are a garnish, but they provide a balancing salty flavor (and make a tasty snack, too).

Substitutions

Here are some ways you can substitute the ingredients in this cocktail:

• Italicus - you may have to call this something else if you don't have Italicus! But, you can make an equally refreshing drink with an orange flavored Triple Sec liqueur.
• Prosecco - try using any white or rosé sparkling wine.
• Seltzer - mineral water or filtered water are fine, or just leave it out.
• Olives - a twist of citrus or a lime wedge work great as a garnish if you don't have olives on hand. Or, try a sprig of fresh rosemary.

Variations

Here are some ideas for variations on this recipe:

• Vermouth - Add a splash of dry vermouth to add even more depth of flavor.
• Campari - You can add a splash of Campari if you want to lean further into the citrusy notes.
• Lemon Lavender - A lemon slice instead of the olives would be a great garnish, but you can also add in a squeeze of fresh lemon juice too. Add some lavender bitters for a floral note.
• Float of gin - Try adding a little bit of Empress 1908 gin on top, like in the Passion Fruit Spritz. This will add a little color and complement the herbal flavors in the Italicus.
• Non-alcoholic Spritz - Although you won't find an exact match for Italicus, you can use a non-alcoholic sparkling wine (like one of these: best-reviewed non-alcoholic Champagne) to lower the alcohol, and try using bergamot syrup in place of the liqueur.

Equipment

You don't need much to put this drink together! Just a jigger, a serving glass, and a cocktail pick or a toothpick.

I used the Viski spritz glass, which is perfect for this style of drink! It's like a large wine glass but with angled sides.

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Instructions

This is such an easy cocktail to put together! Start by prepping the garnish. Just take a cocktail pick or a toothpick and skewer 3 olives onto the pick.

Then, fill your serving glass with ice.

Pour in the Italicus liqueur, followed by a bit of seltzer.

Then, add in your Prosecco. Finish it off by adding in the olive garnish. You can use the garnish pick to gently stir the drink a little bit before serving. Cheers!

Hint: if you chill your serving glass before making the drink, it'll help to keep it colder longer. Plus, the ice won't melt as quickly!

Frequently Asked Questions

Top tip

Try out a Spritz Station at your next cocktail party! Set up some bottles of Prosecco, seltzer and a few different liqueurs. Then make a sign telling your guests how to add 2 parts liqueur, 1 part seltzer and 3 parts Prosecco to their glass.

If you'd rather make a pitcher to pour, I recommend doing it at the last minute so you can keep as much carbonation as possible.