Watermelon Aperol Spritz

I realize that today’s post may be blasphemous to aperol spritz purists.

I hear ya. I really do. There isn’t much better on a hot summer day than an icy cold, super refreshing classic aperol spritz. It’s one of my favorite easy summer cocktails.

And I totally get the “if it ain’t broke” sentiment when it comes to the classics.

But there are already 389 renditions of a regular ol’ spritz on the internets these days (most of which are just slight variances on the proportion of the ingredients), and I wanted to do something with a small twist. A spritz twist, if you will. Given that watermelon is my all-time favorite thing to eat (or drink!) in the summer, it shouldn’t come as too big a shock that I’m taking the aperol spritz to watermelon world.

Yes. It’s a thing. Or at least I’m making it a thing.

The great news? This version of a spritz is still waaaay easy. Really, all I’m doing is adding some fresh watermelon juice to the situation. You can make your life extra easy (I did!) by buying the watermelon juice at the store. This is my favorite brand. Or, if you want to go that extra mile, blend up some fresh watermelon until you have juice.

Throw it all together in a pitcher and you’ve got the fastest, easiest cocktail for a crowd. With an unexpected twist!

While I love the tartness of aperol and sometimes that’s all I need, I am a huge fan of what watermelon does for this cocktail. It rounds out the flavors just so and adds another fruity element that pairs really well with the tart citrus notes of the classic cocktail. It gives it a touch more sweetness but still allows those classic flavors to shine through. I love it.

The watermelon gives the cocktail a little bit more summer flair.

And I don’t know about you, but that’s always a good thing in my book. Too much flair = not a thing.

Watermelon Aperol Spritz

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• Author: Molly
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups watermelon juice (See NOTE)
• 1 (750-mL) bottle of aperol
• 1 (750-mL) bottle of prosecco
• 3 cups seltzer water
• Ice, for serving
• Orange slices, for serving
• Watermelon wedges, for serving

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Instructions

1. For best results, ensure all your ingredients are chilled prior to mixing.
2. To a large pitcher, add the watermelon juice, aperol, prosecco, and seltzer. Stir gently to combine.
3. Fill serving glasses with ice and pour the watermelon mixture over top. Garnish each glass with a slice of orange and a watermelon wedge. Serve immediately.

Notes

• If you cannot find pre-made watermelon juice, add approximately 3 cups of diced fresh watermelon to a blender and puree until completely smooth. If desired, you can press the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any pulp.
• To make individual servings of this, simply add 2 oz of watermelon juice, 3 oz of aperol, and 3 oz of prosecco to each glass filled with ice. Top off with a splash or two of seltzer, garnish, and serve!