Winter Aperol Spritz Cocktail Recipe – Cocktail Hour

We all love an Aperol Spritz on a sunny afternoon, but as the cooler months start to arrive, it’s time to look for a replacement for our favourite Summer spritzer. Lucky for you, I’ve come up with the perfect Wintry spritz that has all the essence of the classic Aperol Spritz – with a festive twist. Shall we take a look at how to make your own Winter Aperol Spritz this season? 

What is Aperol, anyway? 

Aperol is an Italian aperitif, with a red/orange colour, that is traditionally used within spritzes. As for the taste, you can expect a citrusy yet bitter flavour, made of an infusion of orange, herbs and roots. The primarily orange flavour of the drink certainly lends itself to its association with the summer months. But, as we know, oranges are also a real statement flavour throughout Winter. So, with this in mind, I thought why not take on the challenge of adapting this summer spritz into a wintry treat?

Winter Aperol Spritz

To start my experimentation, I headed to my computer to do a bit of research into some of the Winter Aperol Spritz recipes that were already out there. I tested out a fair few recipes but, if I’m completely honest, most of them SUCKED. They all ended up tasting almost exactly like an Aperol Spritz, which completely defeats the point of creating something new, right? Anyway, a few experiments later, I finally cracked the recipe. And here it is…

Equipment

Wine glass (or stemless wine glass) | Ice | Stirrer

Ingredients

75 ml Aperol

75 ml Prosecco

25 ml cranberry juice

Half can of fever tree tonic

Dash of cinnamon (like, TINY)

Sprig of rosemary

Slice of orange

Method

Fill your wine glass halfway with ice cubes.

Add the Aperol, cranberry juice and prosecco into the glass. 

Add the dash of ground cinnamon into the glass and give the mixture a stir. 

Top the drink with 75ml Fever Tree tonic. 

To finish, add the sprig of rosemary and a slice of orange. Serve and enjoy. 

Pair it with these tunes

Want to take your Winter Aperol Spritz to the next level? How about listening to these four tunes that I’ve picked out to go perfectly alongside it? Since an Aperol Spritz is typically an afternoon drink, I’ve chosen four songs that I think capture the feeling of a Winter afternoon. Cosy, relaxed and soulful. Let me know what you think of them! 

simple times – Kacey Musgraves

Green & Gold – Lianne La Havas

Right To Be Wrong – Joss Stone

Other Side Of The World – KT Tunstall

How about some more cosy cocktails?

What do you think of the sound of the Winter Aperol Spritz? Will you be trying it out for yourself this Christmas or will you be sticking to some of your old favourites? Let me know in the comments. I’ll be sharing even more cosy cocktails here on Female Original, and over on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, so make sure to give me a follow for more recipes. And, if you have a specific spirit that you’d like me to share more recipes around, let me know! 

Read next: French 75 Cocktail Recipe.

Female Original