Shake Up Your Spritz

Spring sipping calls for something lighter, brighter — and a little more playful than the usual pour. While the classic spritz remains a warm-weather staple, bartenders are pushing beyond Aperol and limoncello with inventive riffs that spotlight seasonal ingredients and garden-fresh flavors. Think floral elderflower, cooling cucumber, fragrant thyme and vibrant citrus — all designed for easy sipping on sunlit patios.

Here, local bars and restaurants share their fresh takes, including one standout nonalcoholic spritz. So grab a glass, add some bubbles, and toast to spring!

Gin & Tonic Spritz

From Triple Crown in Radnor

• 1.5 oz. Askur gin
• 1 oz. tonic syrup*
• 4 oz. club soda
• Grapefruit wedge, lemon wheel, lime wheel, mint, rosemary and peppercorns, for garnish

Add gin and tonic syrup to a glass.

Add ice and garnishes, then top with club soda.

For a special presentation, use a soda siphon to add club soda tableside.

*Store-bought tonic syrup is fine, or make your own — find recipes online.

Garden Party Spritz

From LaScala’s Fire in West Chester, Newtown Square and more locations

• 0.75 oz. Hendrick’s gin
• 0.75 oz. St-Germain elderflower liqueur
• 0.5 oz. lemon juice
• Prosecco
• Club soda
• Peeled cucumber and bouquet of mint, for garnish

Place cucumber peel on the inner wall of a wine glass. Add ice.

Add gin, elderflower liqueur and lemon juice.

Top with Prosecco and a splash of club soda, then finish with fresh mint.

Nonalcoholic Royal Ruby Spritz

From Wallace Dry Goods in Ardmore

• 1.5 oz Abstinence Blood Orange Aperitif
• 1.5 oz. Abstinence Cape Floral
• 2 oz. Fever-Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit
• Fresh or dehydrated grapefruit or orange wheel, for garnish

Shake blood orange aperitif and Cape Floral in shaker filled with ice.

Pour Fever-Tree over ice in a spritz or rocks glass.

Strain Abstinence from shaker into glass.

Top with fruit wheel of choice.

French Garden Spritz

From Jolene’s in West Chester

• 3 oz. Crémant sparkling wine
• 3 oz. sparkling cucumber water
• ¾ oz. Farigoule thyme liqueur
• Cucumber ribbon and mint, for garnish

Line glass with cucumber ribbon.

Combine Crémant, sparkling cucumber water and thyme liqueur over ice.

Garnish with mint.

The Classic: Aperol Spritz

When it comes to springtime spritzes, the iconic Aperol spritz sets the standard. Here’s the official recipe from the folks at Aperol — approved by the International Bartenders Association.

• 3 oz. Prosecco
• 2 oz. Aperol
• 1 oz. soda water
• Orange slice, for garnish

Fill a large wine glass with ice.

Pour in Prosecco, then add Aperol.

Top with soda water, then garnish with orange slice.