The holidays are almost here and that means it's time to start prepping those holiday drink menus! I love crafting seasonal cocktails and mocktails this time of year, and this Cranberry Campari Spritz has become a classic.
I first made these spritzes for Thanksgiving back in 2019, and its been a favorite of mine ever since. Like a more robust, more bittersweet, wintery version of the ubiquitous Aperol Spritz, this Campari Spritz is balanced with a sweet and sour cranberry syrup.
Campari vs. Aperol
Although Campari and Aperol are both bittersweet, Italian liqueurs, they couldn't be more different. Aperol is a very low ABV (11%), bright orange liqueur with a prominent orange flavor and a mild bitterness. Its secret recipe includes rhubarb and gentian, among many other herbs and spices.
Campari, on the other hand, is a bright red, intensely bitter liqueur that comes in at 24% ABV (in the United States). The Campari recipe includes orange peel, quinine, chinotto, and cascarilla among many other secret botanicals. It has a strong bitter citrus and herb flavor and a thicker, more syrupy texture.
Campari is considered one of the the most bitter liqueurs, among the likes of Fernet Branca, while Aperol could be considered roughly the same level of bitterness as your average tonic water. Both liqueurs work well in spritzes and are great for "aperitivo," the Italian tradition of drinks and small bites before the main meal.
What is a spritz?
The spritz originated in Italy and was a mix of sparkling wine, bitter liqueur, and sparking water. Today, spritzes are a general family of cocktails that are most commonly made with the same three types of ingredients.
Sparkling wine such as prosecco is an often used, but spritzes can also be made with aromatized and fortified wines such as vermouth or Lillet Blanc and Cocchi Americano. Spritzes are generally light, refreshing, bittersweet, and low in alcohol. The spritz is the perfect cocktail to serve with hors d'oeuvres before a main meal. Read more about the history of the spritz.
Spritz vs. spritzer
A wine spritzer is a related mixed drink, but one that's a bit simpler. Spritzers combine a few ounces of wine, most commonly white (but any wine can be used), with a splash of sparkling water.
This simple, two ingredient drink is served over ice in a wine glass and garnishes are optional. The primary difference between spritzers and spritzes is the lack of a bitter liqueur. You can think of a spritzer as a "wine and soda". If you enjoy simple, two ingredient sparkling cocktails, try a Kir Royale.
More Christmas cocktails to enjoy:
- Christmas Margaritas
- Cranberry Christmas Morning Mimosas
- Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas) Tiki Cocktail
- Classic French 75 (Champagne Cocktail)
- Christmas Sugar Cookie Martini
How to make a spritz
The most common spritz recipe is "3, 2, 1," meaning three parts sparkling wine, two parts liqueur, and one part sparkling water. This is the recipe that most use for an Aperol Spritz and it's a great template to start with, although it can lean a bit too sweet, in my opinion.
For more potent liqueurs, I recommend using 4, 1, 1, instead (four parts sparkling wine, one part liqueur and one part sparkling water). Combine all ingredients in a wine glass over plenty of ice and garnish with a fresh slice of citrus. For this spritz, we're also adding a half ounce of fresh cranberry syrup to offset the bitterness of the Campari with its sweet and tart flavor.
Cranberry simple syrup
For this recipe, we're making a homemade cranberry simple syrup - which isn't much different from making homemade cranberry sauce! This time of year, you might already have a bag of fresh or frozen cranberries on hand, and if so, you'll just need a cup of sugar and a cup of water.
Combine one cup of cranberries (fresh or frozen) with one cup of sugar and one cup of water in a small saucepan. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring to dissolve all of the sugar.
Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer your syrup for ten minutes. The liquid will be bright red and many of the berries will have burst. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool before straining out the solids with a fine mesh strainer.
Store your lovely cranberry syrup in a glass bottle or jar in the fridge for up to two weeks. Cranberry syrup can thicken substantially once it cools, so I do prefer to store my syrup in a mason jar rather than a bottle with a more narrow neck.
More cranberry drink recipes to try this holiday season:
- How to Make the Perfect Cosmopolitan
- White Winter Cosmopolitan Recipe
- Cranberry Ginger Hot Toddy
- Cranberry Aquavit & Tonic
Cranberry Campari Spritz (Easy Christmas Cocktail)
Ingredients
- 1 oz Campari
- ½ oz cranberry simple syrup see notes
- 4 oz prosecco or other dry sparkling wine
- 1 oz club soda or other sparkling water
Instructions
- Fill a wine glass with ice.
- Add the Campari and cranberry syrup and stir to chill.
- Pour about 4 ounces of prosecco into the glass, then top with an ounce of club soda.
- Stir gently amd garnish with fresh cranberries, an orange slice, and rosemary, if desired.
Notes
Cranberry Simple Syrup
Ingredients:- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- In a small sauce pan, combine the sugar, water, and cranberries and and simmer just until the fruit begins to breakdown, about 10 minutes.
- Remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to cool.
- Strain through a mesh strainer. Do not press on solids. Leftover syrup can be kept in a clean glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Cranberry syrup can thicken a lot once it cools, so I prefer a mason jar for storage rather than a bottle.