corner view

corner view :: orange

the marriage of Italy & NOLA & Kentucky

There's this undeniably orange drink that we've taken a liking to here in northern Italy -- the spritz.

"Venice, Padua and Trieste all claim paternity rights to the spritz, but its origins probably lie in the Austrian Empire, which took over Veneto in the early 19th century. Hapsburg soldiers, local legend has it, would water down the strong local wine with a squirt (spritzen) of sparkling water." -- read more of this article in the NY Times.

Its primary ingredients are Aperol, Prosecco (or even white wine), and sparkling water with a garnish of olive or orange.  Every place mixes the spritz a bit differently, and a Campari spritz is also common.  The spritz is to be sipped casually, preferably an hour or two before mealtime, to help stimulate the appetite.  There is quite a spritz culture among the youth of Vicenza.

I perfer my spritz with Aperol and usually have a bottle of the bitter apertif on hand.

One creative day, I crafted this new orange, spritz-inspired cocktail, which, in fact, is very, very similar in taste to the famous NOLA Sazerac cocktail (and not very spritzy).

1 Part Maker's Mark Whisky + 1 Part Aperol (over ice) = Pure Orange Joy :)

Try it.  You won't be disappointed.

{NOLA = New Orleans, Louisiana}

------------------------------------------------------
For more Corner Views around the world, see Jane or Theresa.