E - 133 : And Silver Medal went to - Aperol Spritz!

Aperol Spritz - the No 2 drink on the AFAET last year after Mint Julep

Found the photo above in my album and thought I had to write a little piece on last year’s second favourite drink on the AFAET: Aperol Spritz

With its orange colour, a slice of orange, small ice cubes and the sparkling Prosecco, it looks very attractive and sexy. Given the amount of sugar it contains it is both sweet, refreshing and addictive. Am sure most health experts have not many good things to say about it – it is probably as unhealthy as Coke.

Be it as it may, it is good and I guess - consumed in moderation - not unhealthy. Discovered this cocktails about 10 years ago in Venice where it is now omni present. Every tourist seems to drink it. Actually, it is just one of the many Aperitifs you can find in Northern Italy. But after Campari, the big drinks company, acquired the brand, it took off. Some clever marketing and several millions of campaign money do wonders.

Gentian has useful qualities beyond the flower pot

Given its glamour it is almost inconceivable that it is actually a poor man’s drink. Made from gentian and cinchona flowers and rhubarb, it is one variant of the herbal schnaps you find throughout the Alpine area. Switzerland, Austria and Germany have many varieties – albeit German speakers are not as creative in marketing as Italians. We are good in engineering, less so in selling. Thus our herbal liquors are not well know. They are also colourless and lack the flashy orange hue of Aperol. Does anyone know why it is orange? Could not find out which ingredient is responsible for the intense color.

Cinchona was once sought after for its medical properties as it contains quinine and other useful alkaloids - maybe Aperol protects against Malaria?

Aperol Spritz is the perfect drink for our time when nobody has time. Take a glass full of ice, fill it to 1/3 with Aperol and pour Prosecco over it until full – et voila! And don’t forget the slice of orange! Makes it look sophisticated even so it is not. But it is tasty and refreshing. It is also the perfect drink for on a sailboat. Can be prepared in under 3 minutes.

Very good in Rhubarb pie as well!

No idea whether Aperol Spritz will become No 1 on the AFAET this summer. It is No 9 in the league table of Global Cocktails. We will see!