• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Charming Cocktails
  • Recipe Index
  • Tutorials
  • About
  • Amazon Shop
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Tutorials
  • About
  • Amazon Shop
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Tutorials
    • About
    • Amazon Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home All Cocktails

    Italicus Spritz

    Published: Aug 28, 2023 by Kimberly · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a recipe! Cheers!

    Italicus Spritz cocktail in a large stemmed cocktail glass, with ingredients in the background. The drink is bubbly and garnished with three green olives on a cocktail pick. Bold text above the drink says “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!

    Overhead view of an Italicus Spritz cocktail in a large stemmed cocktail glass, with ingredients in the background. The drink has ice in it and looks refreshing. It’s bubbly and garnished with three green olives on a cocktail pick.

    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.

    Jump to:
    • What is Italicus liqueur?
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Instructions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Top tip
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    What is Italicus liqueur?

    The star of the show in this cocktail recipe is Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, a delicious Italian liqueur. Italicus is a rosolio, which is an ancient style of liqueur made with equal proportions of water, spirit and sugar. And no, it has nothing to do with rose petals!

    The main flavor of this sweet spirit is bergamot peel. Bergamot is a citrus fruit grown in Calabria, Italy, and you may know it as the flavoring in Earl Grey tea. (Side note: try a splash of Italicus in an Earl Grey Gin cocktail!)

    This complex liqueur also uses a bunch of other botanicals, like chamomile and melissa balm, to create a deep and flavorful sip.

    It was developed by Giuseppe Gallo, a mixologist, and hit the market in 2016. It's now a staple in bars around the world!

    A bottle of Italicus liqueur on a countertop. The bottle is a beautiful cerulean blue color.

    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).
    Ingredients to make an Italicus Spritz together on a countertop.

    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.
    Side view of an Italicus Spritz cocktail in a large stemmed cocktail glass, with ingredients and a jigger in the background. The drink has ice in it and looks refreshing. It’s bubbly and garnished with three green olives on a cocktail pick.

    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.
    Italicus Spritz cocktail in a large stemmed cocktail glass, with ingredients in the background. The drink is bubbly and garnished with three green olives on a cocktail pick.

    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.

    I definitely recommend A Bar Above if you want to refresh your bar tools! You can get 10% off using my discount code, LKDrinks.

    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.

    Hands adding green olives to a cocktail pick.
    Hand using an ice scoop to add ice to a large stemmed cocktail glass.

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

    Hand using a jigger to add Italicus liqueur to a cocktail glass.
    Hand pouring Topo Chico sparkling water into a cocktail glass.

    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!

    Hand pouring Prosecco sparkling wine into a cocktail glass.
    Hand adding a pick with three green olives to a large stemmed cocktail glass.

    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

    What does Italicus taste like?

    Italicus is a sweet liqueur, and its main flavor is bergamot, a citrus fruit. It's not tart at all, though, since its flavor comes from the peel of the fruit. It also has a touch of bitterness from the different flowers and herbs used to flavor it, like gentian, chamomile, lavender and melissa balm.

    What's the difference between an Aperol Spritz and an Italicus Spritz?

    The main difference is the liqueur and the garnish. Aperol has less alcohol than Italicus, and it has a stronger citrus flavor and more bitterness. Italicus is milder and has a more subtle flavor. The garnish, meanwhile, is typically an orange slice for the Aperol Spritz, and olives for the Italicus Spritz.

    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.

    Italicus Spritz cocktail in a large stemmed cocktail glass, with ingredients in the background. The drink is bubbly and garnished with three green olives on a cocktail pick. Bold text above the drink says “Italicus Spritz”.

    📖 Recipe

    Close up of an Italicus Spritz cocktail in a large stemmed cocktail glass, with ingredients in the background. The drink has ice in it and looks refreshing. It’s bubbly and garnished with three green olives on a cocktail pick.

    Italicus Spritz

    Kimberly Salem
    Italicus Spritz, a refreshing and citrusy Prosecco cocktail with bergamot flavored Italicus liqueur
    5 from 1 vote
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 1 cocktail
    Calories 265 kcal

    Equipment

    • Cocktail pick
    • Jigger or measuring cup
    • Cocktail serving glass (Spritz style)

    Ingredients

    • 3 green olives (optional garnish)
    • 2 ounces Italicus liqueur
    • 1 ounce seltzer
    • 3 ounces Prosecco

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare your olive garnish by adding three green olives to a cocktail pick or toothpick
    • Fill your serving glass with ice.
    • Measure and pour the Italicus liqueur into the glass.
    • Pour in the seltzer, followed by the Prosecco.
    • Add the olive garnish to the glass. Gently use the garnish to stir the drink a little if you'd like. Then serve!

    Notes

    • If you prefer not to use olives as a garnish, try a slice of lime or a lemon wedge.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 265kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 0.2gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 199mgPotassium: 80mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 47IUCalcium: 15mgIron: 0.4mg
    Keyword alcohol, bergamot, olives, Prosecco, seltzer, sparkling wine, spritz
    Subscribe for more!Join our email list for weekly recipes!
    Made with WP Recipe Maker plugin

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Italicus Spritz cocktail in a large stemmed cocktail glass, with ingredients in the background. The drink is bubbly and garnished with three green olives on a cocktail pick. Bold text above the drink says “Italicus Spritz”.
    Subscribe to the Charming Cocktails email list
    Kim, the blog author

    I'm Kim, a cocktail enthusiast (and cold brew coffee lover). Here you'll find recipes, tips and tricks to make delicious cocktails at home! More about me →

    • Instagram
    • Link to Limoncello Kitchen YouTube channel.
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook

    Seasonal Recipes

    • Side view of an Apple Cider mimosa on a gray countertop in a Champagne flute. Cinnamon sugar is coating the rim of the glass and an apple slice is attached to the rim as a garnish. In the background is fresh apple, a jigger, a plate of cinnamon sugar and a plate of caramel sauce, along with a rustic vase.
      Apple Cider Mimosa
    • Side view of Amaretto French 75 cocktail with Amaretto bottle and jigger in the background.
      Amaretto French 75
    • close up of apple cinnamon cocktail with baked apple chip clipped on the side as garnish
      Apple Cinnamon Bourbon Cocktail
    • two cranberry and orange juice mocktails surrounded by cranberries and evergreens
      Cranberry and Orange Juice Mocktail
    • Side view of an orange colored Halloween Margarita in a coupe cocktail glass. The drink has a black salt rim and ingredients are visible in the background.
      Halloween Margarita
    • hot apple cider cocktail in front with ingredients in the background
      Hot Apple Cider Cocktail with Rum

    Footer

    Italicus Spritz cocktail in a large stemmed cocktail glass, with ingredients in the background. The drink is bubbly and garnished with three green olives on a cocktail pick. Bold text above the drink says “Italicus Spritz”.

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Privacy Policy

    Social

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Facebook

    Contact

    • Contact Me
    • Photo Portfolio

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020-2023 Kimberly Salem Photography, LLC

    Manage Cookie Consent
    We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
    Functional cookies Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}