Tequila Aperol Spritz

With this year’s Winter Olympics in Milan, I had to make an Italian-inspired cocktail to serve at my opening ceremony viewing party. The obvious go-to is Italy’s signature cocktail, the Aperol Spritz, but I just wanted to add a little more booze and little bit of spice, so I made it a Tequila Aperol Spritz with jalapeno and strawberry infused Aperol! Duh! It’s an easy crowd pleaser. It’s gold-medal worthy.

The Tequila Aperol Spritz is also perfect for parties well beyond the Olympics as it makes about 8 drinks and can be batched in a pitcher in just 5 minutes. Think pool parties, Super Bowl parties, backyard barbecues, birthdays… you know what to do.

Watch Me Mix It

How to Make a Tequila Aperol Spritz Pitcher

1. Add Tequila Blanco, (infused) Aperol, Prosecco or sparkling rose, and sparkling soda water (or grapefruit sparkling soda) into a pitcher and mix together.
2. Pour approximately 8 oz of the mix into a glass filled with ice. 
3. Garnish with a strawberry, edible flower, etc.

How to Make Infused Aperol

You can just use Aperol on it’s own, but if you want to get a little spicy with it, you can infuse it with any flavor you want to give your Tequila Aperol Spritz a signature twist. I infused mine with strawberries and jalapenos, but you could try fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or sage, or a fresh spring vibe with watermelon and mint.

You’ll need:

• 1 bottle (750 ml) Aperol
• 1–2 fresh jalapeños, sliced (seeds in for more heat, removed for milder spice)
• 2-3 fresh strawberries, sliced

Instructions (Quick Infusion Method)

1. Add sliced strawberries and jalapeño to a large jar or container.
2. Pour Aperol over the fruit and seal.
3. Let infuse for 2–4 hours, tasting every hour. Jalapeño extracts quickly, so remove the slices once the heat is where you like it.
4. Strain through a fine mesh strainer.
5. Store in the refrigerator for the brightest flavor. It keeps for about 1–2 weeks.

What Makes a Spritz a Spritz

Well, first, let’s talk about how cute it is that “spritz” means “a splash” in German. But despite it’s name origins, the spritz is an Italian cocktail through and through. It has a base recipe of 3 parts sparkling wine + 2 parts bitter liqueur + a splash (or 1 part) soda water and is usually served before dinner. They usually come with a zesty garnish.