Bitter Spritz Cocktail Recipe
Bitter aperitif, vermouth and soda in a tall glass — the Americano stretched out for a whole afternoon.
- Category: Popular
- Glass: Highball glass
- ABV: 9%
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: ~3 min
Ingredients
- Bitter aperitif40 ml (1.4 oz)
- Vermouth di Torino40 ml (1.4 oz)
- Soda water120 ml (4.1 oz)
How to Make It
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Add the bitter aperitif and vermouth.
- Top with soda water and stir once.
- Garnish with a thick orange slice.
Garnish
Orange slice
What it tastes like
It has a bitter backbone, it is carbonated and it is low in alcohol.
The technique
Built in the glass. Ice goes into the serving glass, the ingredients go on top, and you stir once if at all. Anything carbonated goes in LAST and never gets stirred; every turn of the spoon costs you bubbles. Fill the glass to the rim with ice: less ice melts faster, not slower.
Glass and ice
A tall, narrow highball. The narrowness does real work — less surface area means the carbonation lasts longer and the ice melts more slowly.
Ingredient notes and substitutes
- Soda water
- Plain carbonated water. It goes in LAST and nothing is stirred after it. An open bottle goes flat fast, so small bottles make more sense than big ones.
The Story
Every Italian bar builds this without being asked when someone says they want something bitter but not strong.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a Bitter Spritz mixed?
- It is built in the glass and served in a highball glass.
- How strong is a Bitter Spritz?
- Roughly 9% ABV as served — lighter than a beer — a long-conversation drink that takes a second round.
- Can a Bitter Spritz be made without alcohol?
- Simply leaving the spirit out does not work — the body and the bitterness go with it. The 86 alcohol-free recipes in the catalogue are built to hit that balance from the start.
- Is a Bitter Spritz hard to make?
- Easy. No bar kit required — a measure, ice and a jar will do.
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Alcoholic drink recipes are intended for those aged 18 and over. Please drink responsibly.