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Here’s a refreshing cocktail starring your favorite Italian amaro: the Cynar Spritz! It’s bubbly, refreshing, and 100% impressive.
Once summer rolls around, the spritz is where it’s at. This is a new spin on one of my favorite concepts: the Cynar Spritz! It features Cynar, a popular Italian bitter liqueur, for a drink that’s bubbly, bittersweet, and refreshing as all get out.
Consider this one a cousin of the ubiquitous Aperol Spritz, with a nuanced flavor that’s more intriguing than the sweet, citrusy orange standard. This is what true connoisseurs sip.
Your spritz ingredients
The concept of a spritz is hundreds of years old. It was invented back in the 1800s in Italy as a way to water down wine. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the Aperol Spritz took the form it has today, with sparkling wine and soda water. The Cynar spritz uses Cynar, another type of Italian amaro, in place of the Aperol.
Here’s what you’ll need for this one:
- Cynar
- Sparkling wine, like Prosecco or Champagne
- Soda water (not tonic water)
All about Cynar
Cynar is an amaro, part of a family of Italian herbal liqueurs that taste bitter. (It makes sense. “Amaro” means “bitter” in Italian.) The most famous is the ultra-bitter Campari, and at the other end of the spectrum is citrusy sweet Aperol. Cynar is somewhere in the middle, with other amari like Averna or Meletti.
Here are a few more fun facts about Cynar:
- Cynar is made with 13 herbs and spices, including artichoke leaves. The name is derived from the scientific name for artichoke (cynara), with a bright green artichoke on the logo. The rest of the ingredients remain a secret.
- Cynar was invented in 1952 by an entrepreneur from Venice, Italy. It has since been acquired by the Campari Group, which distributes Campari, Aperol, Averna, and other liqueurs.
- Wondering how to say it? Pronounce it “Ch-NAHR.” I know I was saying it wrong for a while!
- The flavor of Cynar is bittersweet, with notes of caramel, toffee, and cinnamon, and an herbal bitter finish.
- If you’re worried about being stuck with an unused bottle, Cynar is more versatile than you think. Try the Cynar Negroni or Bitter Giuseppe.
What’s the spritz ratio?
The classic spritz ratio is present in all spritzes, from Aperol to an amaro spritz like the Cynar Spritz. The basic idea is 3 parts sparkling wine, 2 parts liqueur, and 1 part soda water. Once you’ve memorized this ratio, you can use it to make endless variations of spritzes with any type of liqueur. I’ll get into those later.
Ways to step it up
The Cynar Spritz is really a matter of pouring everything into a glass! If you really want to take it over the top, try the following:
- Serve with clear ice. This ice is crystal clear, with none of the cloudiness of normal ice. You can cut large chunks, and they look just like a fancy bar. All you need is 24 hours and my tips for making clear ice at home.
- Add a citrus wedge. Lemon, lime, or orange works great!
- Throw in a straw. What’s more fun and summer-centric?
Making a Cynar Spritzer
Want an even easier spin on the Cynar Spritz? Try the Cynar Spritzer! It might sound the same, but for me, the spritzer is the key to summer sipping. All you need is soda water! Skip the spendy Prosecco in favor of just Cynar and sparkling water. Start with a ratio of 50/50, then adjust to taste.
Frequently asked questions
You could use any amaro. I’d recommend Amaro Averna.
This drink gives you a lot of complexity from a few simple ingredients. You get bitterness, sweetness, and herbs from the Cynar, a sweet effervescence from the Prosecco, and a dash of acid from the garnish. The overall effect is almost like a fancy homemade soda with a kick!
The options are limitless. I like it mixed with tonic or soda water, or swapped with vermouth into a negroni or Manhattan. You can also just drink it straight.
Cynar Spritz
Here’s a refreshing cocktail starring your favorite Italian amaro: the Cynar Spritz! It’s bubbly, refreshing, and 100% impressive.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Cynar
- 3 ounces Prosecco or other sparkling wine, chilled
- 1 ounce soda water
- Ice (Try clear ice!)
- Lemon wedge (or other citrus) for garnish
Instructions
- Add the Cynar to a glass filled with ice and stir.
- Top with the sparkling wine and soda water. (For the Cynar Spritzer variation, use 2 ounces Cynar and 2 ounces soda water.)
- Squeeze in the lemon wedge and stir gently, then serve.
- Serve with a straw to minimize dilution!
Notes
To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce is equal to 2 tablespoons.
More spritz recipes
There are so many spritzes in the family! Here are a few more spritz recipes to try:
- The Spritz Veneziano is the classic and totally worth the hype.
- A Campari Spritz is bitter, bubbly, and a common spin on the Aperol Spritz.
- The Amaro Spritz uses any amaro, from Meletti to Averna.
- A St Germain Spritz is a floral, refreshing cocktail that’s easy to drink!
- The Lillet Spritz is light and breezy, featuring Lillet Blanc and bubbles.
Let us know if you make it!