Bitters · Explainer
What is a spritz?
A spritz is a long, light aperitif of sparkling wine, a bitter aperitif and soda water. The official recipe of the International Bartenders Association gives 90 millilitres prosecco, 60 millilitres Aperol and a splash of soda, in other words the ratio 3 to 2 to 1. Everything goes into a wine glass full of ice, with a slice of orange.
In brief
The key figures
| Ratio | 3 parts sparkling wine, 2 parts bitter aperitif, 1 dash of soda |
|---|---|
| Official recipe | 90 ml prosecco, 60 ml Aperol, splash of soda water |
| Glass | Wine glass, filled to the brim with ice |
| Garnish | Orange slice |
| Recognised variants | With Campari, Cynar or Select instead of Aperol |
| Method | Build everything directly in the glass and stir lightly |
| Name | Spritz is not a protected name |
| Age limit | NIX18: geen alcohol onder de 18 jaar |
What is in a spritz?
A spritz contains three things: sparkling wine, a bitter aperitif and a splash of soda water, built in a wine glass full of ice.
The official recipe of the International Bartenders Association gives 90 milliliters of prosecco, 60 milliliters of Aperol and a splash of soda. Everything is built directly in the glass and lightly stirred, with a slice of orange added.
No shaker is needed and nothing is prepared in advance.
What is the right ratio for a spritz?
The ratio is 3 to 2 to 1: three parts sparkling wine, two parts bitter aperitif and a dash of soda water.
In measures that comes to 90 millilitres of wine to 60 millilitres of aperitif. For a lighter glass, keep the wine at 90 millilitres and take the aperitif down to 45 millilitres. For more bitterness, go up to 75 millilitres of aperitif.
The ice should come up to the rim. A half-filled glass dilutes faster than a full glass, because loose ice cubes melt faster.
Which bitter aperitif can go in a spritz?
The official recipe names Aperol and also recognises versions with Campari, Cynar or Select.
Those four differ in bitterness and in alcohol content, and that is what you choose on. A light, orange aperitif gives a gentle glass. A red bitter gives a firmer and drier glass. An artichoke-based aperitif makes the glass more herbal.
The ratio stays the same in all cases: 90 milliliters of sparkling wine to 60 milliliters of aperitif.
Can any bitter drink call itself a spritz?
Spritz is not a protected name, so in practice any combination of sparkling wine, something bitter and soda water goes by that name.
Regulation (EU) 2019/787 sets out the categories for spirit drinks, from gin to liqueur. Spritz does not appear in it. What holds a spritz together in practice is the form: long, lots of ice, a wine glass, and lighter than a stirred cocktail.
A bottle of ready-made spritz does carry the legal name and the alcohol content as usual.
Which sparkling wine do you use for a spritz?
The recipe calls for prosecco, and otherwise any dry sparkling wine with a fine bubble does the same job in this glass.
Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine with a protected designation of origin. Choose a brut or an extra dry, because a sweeter wine, together with the aperitif, soon makes the glass too sweet.
An alcohol-free sparkling wine also works, in the same proportion and with an alcohol-free bitter aperitif alongside.
From the shop in Bathmen
Which bitters of 10 to 25 percent are there in Bathmen?
In the shop in Bathmen there are 16 bitters from 13 different brands from 3 countries. Prices range from € 9.49 to € 135.99. The alcohol percentage ranges from 10% to 25%.
- Achterhoekertje Kruidenlikeur 22% · 70 cl · Netherlands
- Campari Bitter 25% · 100 cl · Italy
- Campari Bitter 25% · 70 cl · Italy
- Campari Bitter 3L 25% · 300 cl · Italy
- Campari Soda L'Aperitivo 10% · 49 cl · Italy
- China Martini Bitter 25% · 70 cl · Italy
- Cynar 16.5% · 70 cl · Italy
- Hooghoudt Zachtbitter 22% · 100 cl · Netherlands
- Kalkwijck Kozakkenruter 25% · 70 cl · Netherlands
- Kozakkenruter 25% · 50 cl · Netherlands
Related questions
What is the difference between a bitter and a liqueur?What is the difference between jachtbitter and beerenburg?What is oranjebitter?
Short answer
Short answers to related questions
- How much alcohol is in a spritz?
- That depends on the wine and the aperitif. Because of the soda water and the ice, a spritz is lighter than a stirred cocktail.
- Which glass do you use for a spritz?
- A large wine glass, filled to the brim with ice.
- Can a spritz be made without alcohol?
- Yes. Use an alcohol-free sparkling wine and an alcohol-free bitter aperitif in the same proportion.
- What is the difference between a spritz and a negroni?
- A spritz is long, with soda water and plenty of ice in a wine glass. A negroni is short, stirred and without bubbles.
The reasoning
Sources
- Spritz, officieel recept, International Bartenders Association (accessed 2026-09-05)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, EUR-Lex, Publications Office of the European Union (accessed 2026-09-05)
- Alcoholwet (Dutch Alcohol Act), article 20 (age limit 18), Overheid.nl, wetten.overheid.nl (accessed 2026-09-05)
- Alcohol, Voedingscentrum (accessed 2026-09-05)
This page was written and checked by ’t Bockje Bathmen, wine and spirits shop at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Last updated on 7 September 2026.
Verkoop van alcohol onder de 18 jaar is verboden. NIX18.