My friend Jacqui is our resident cocktail queen. She showed up at our virtual book club gathering last week with a blue drink and it looked fetching! So, I am sharing her delicious recipe for an Aperol Spritz that she enjoyed during an Italian getaway last summer.

Aperol is an Italian apéritif, and it’s typically served before a meal to stimulate the appetite.  Invented in 1919, it wasn’t until after World War II that Aperol really gained attention on a global scale.  The Italian way of life, enjoying an ‘apéritif’ before dinner, took the world by storm. The slang word for apéritif is apero, hence the name Aperol. The flavors noted in descriptions of Aperol are bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona among other ingredients.  I thought it tasted like summer in a glass.

Photo credit: Sourced Craft Cocktail

I’ll share the recipe for the Blue Jacqui soon!  In the meantime, this cocktail is the perfect sip and nod to summer.  Cheers!