This post is sponsored by Aperol. All thoughts are my own.
I’ve always been a believer in the saying “Work Hard, Play Hard.” At my studio, J3, making sure we get the job done and on time is a priority. However, I also know that creativity needs time to foster. It’s important to let your mind absorb other things than just the assignment at hand. It’s all about a good balance right?
So when the folks at @AperolUSA invited me to have my own #SpritzBreak, I knew that throwing one at the studio would be the perfect place! Last Friday, we were finishing up a project we’d been working on all week. I figured as a way to celebrate and kick off the weekend, we could close up shop a little early and do something fun. During lunch, I made a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up some nibbly bits and necessities, and as 3:00 rolled around, I called the guys into our conference room and brought out the Aperol for the #SpritzBreak to begin!
Are you familiar with Aperol? Aperol is an Italian aperitif, that was created in 1919, and quickly became popular in Italy and all over the world. It’s made with bitter orange, rhubarb, and other ingredients and has a distinctive red/orange color. In the 1950s, the recipe for the “Aperol Spritz” was born!
Here’s how you make an Aperol Spritz, it’s as simple as 3-2-1:
3 parts Prosecco
2 parts Aperol
1 part Soda
Pour into glasses (with ice) and garnish with a slice of orange.
That’s easy to remember right?
Another fun variation is on the Aperol Spritz is called the “Aperol Betty”. I grabbed the recipe from Spritz: Italy’s Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail that just came out this spring from renowned drinks writers Talia Baiocchi + Leslie Pariseau. It uses the same main ingredients (Aperol and Prosecco, except instead of Soda Water, you add Orange and Grapefruit Juice. It’s essentially like a Mimosa, but with a little twist. This could be great for brunch too!
To make it:
2 oz of Aperol
1 oz Orange juice
¼ oz of Grapefruit juice
3 oz of Prosecco
Add it all into a cocktail shaker, add ice and shake. Garnish with an orange wheel.
Ok, Back to my #SpritzBreak… After some serious chow downing of yummy finger foods, we settled down for a few serious and heated rounds of UNO. (OMG when was the last time you played a card game like that? I forgot how fun those used to be!)
Good food, good people, and even better drinks make for an awesome #SpritzBreak!
Now that the days are longer and weather is warmer, it’s prime time for light cocktails and spritzers.
I hope you’ll consider having your own #AperolSpritzBreak and trying an Aperol Spritz if you’ve never had one before. It really is the perfect summer cocktail!
Big Thanks to the folks at @Aperolusa for sponsoring our little shindig. For more Aperol inspiration, check out @Aperolusa on Instagram.
Photos/Styling by J3 Productions.