There are few beverages that scream summer as much as Aperol Spritzes do. You can find bright orange, umbrella-covered carts hawking the iconic cocktail all across Europe. And you’d be hard pressed to look at an American restaurant’s happy hour menu without seeing one. There’s a reason why many have dubbed it the “drink of the summer” for the past several years.
Part of its appeal is the vibrant orange hue it gets from Aperol, an Italian bittersweet spirit that’s been sipped for over a century. But, as it turns out, it also seems to be the source of a divisive argument about the drink’s overall merits.
That’s right: the Aperol Spritz has turned into a polarizing cocktail.
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As the spritz skyrocketed to mainstream popularity in 2019, The New York Times published a scaldingly hot take that dragged it. Author Rebekah Peppler made waves by asserting that the Aperol Spritz isn’t that great, comparing the flavor to “a Capri Sun after soccer practice on a hot day. Not in a good way.”
Peppler’s opinion drew both support and ire from the public, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Aperol Spritz’s trajectory into the zeitgeist. But now that the rose-colored (or orange-colored) glasses are off, more people are rising against the summer sipper.
There's been a rise in TikToks about drink being bad, and users are flooding the comments section to validate the negative opinions. One user wrote, “I feel like I’m drinking Dayquil every time I have one.”
Another chimed in, “Literally convinced everyone pretends to like them.”
I decided to open the discussion to our team of food experts at Delish. And it’s safe to say we’re divided.
“I'm sorry (not really) but it tastes like carbonated cough syrup to me... but maybe I never had a good one,” says our assistant social media editor Izabela Campos.
“I actually find them too bitter,” says our editorial director Joanna Saltz. “And for a drink that freaking red, it shouldn't be that bitter.”
On the other hand, we have plenty of Aperol Spritz lovers in the office. “I am appalled that people are saying they are gross,” says our digital food producer Camille Lowder.
Much of the controversy when it comes to the beverage revolves around the Aperol. Some people find it too sweet, while for others it’s far too bitter. But according to our social media editor Sam Caccamise, the ingredient that makes or breaks a good Aperol Spritz is actually the sparkling wine.
“I firmly believe you MUST have a very dry champagne or prosecco if you are having one,” she says. And I’m inclined to agree. You can’t expect a bottom shelf tequila to make a stellar margarita—the same goes for the wine in any spritz.
If you’re still a staunch defender of the Aperol Spritz, we commend your commitment. But we’re here to help steer all of the haters towards a better beverage for their palates.
If you think the Aperol Spritz is too sweet for your taste, try experimenting with other Italian aperitivos. A good baby step toward appreciating bitter drinks is Amaro Montenegro, which almost resembles a Coca-Cola when stirred into a spritz.
Our contributing assistant food producer Mackenzie Filson opts for a Campari Spritz more often than not. Other amari like Cynar and Averna are commonly stocked behind the bar and can make a refreshing, less sweet spritz.
If you think Aperol is too bitter, try the increasingly popular Hugo Spritz, also known as the St. Germain Spritz. This cocktail swaps out the bright orange aperitivo for a French elderflower liqueur that’s significantly more palatable. We’ve even gone so far as to name it 2023’s drink of the summer—it's that good.
What are your thoughts on the Aperol Spritz? Let us know in the comments.
Gabby Romero is Delish’s editorial assistant, where she writes stories about the latest TikTok trends, develops recipes, and answers any and all of your cooking-related questions. She loves eating spicy food, collecting cookbooks, and adding a mountain of Parmesan to any dish she can.
