This Portuguese Spritz is a delightfully refreshing cocktail inspired by the Iberian country. Learn how to craft the sparkling cocktail at home with just a few ingredients.
Most people associate spritzes with Italy. Popular spritzes like the Aperol Spritz, Campari Spritz and Limoncello Spritz all have roots in the boot. But that doesn’t mean that every spritz has to be Italian. Enter the Portuguese Spritz.
We created the Portuguese Spritz by blending the Italian cocktail concept with Portuguese ingredients. The result is a refreshing sparkling wine cocktail that’s a pleasure to sip wherever you happen to be located.
What Is a Portuguese Spritz?
The Portuguese Spritz is a bubbly cocktail that’s crafted with sparkling wine, Per Se and sparkling water using a 3:2:1 ratio. It’s a relatively light drink that’s ideal for aperitivo sessions. And, if you close your eyes while sipping one, the Portuguese Spritz will likely transport your soul to Europe with no flight required.
Ingredients
You need the following ingredients to craft a Portuguese Spritz:
Ingredient quantities are detailed in the printable recipe card below.
While Aperol and Campari are famous around the world, Per Se may be new to you. Orange in color and made with 24 different botanicals, the Portuguese spirit gets its pleasant flavor from ingredients like cardamom, orange, Jamaican pepper and hops.
Produced in Portugal by Casa Redondo, Per Se has a non-threatening ABV of 14.5%. While it’s easy to find in Portugal, you may have a challenge finding a bottle in your home town. If that’s the case, we recommend shopping online or buying a bottle when you travel to Portugal.
How to Craft a Portuguese Spritz
The first step in this recipe is to open a sparkling wine bottle. Do this carefully to avoid an annoying mess or, worse, an eye injury.
Next, fill a wine glass half way with ice cubes.
Measure the sparkling wine and Per Se. Immediately pour the two liquids into the wine glass. We use a Japanese jigger for this step since it ensures accurate measuerements and minimizes spillage.
Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.
Gently stir the two liquids with a bar spoon.
Top the glass with chilled sparkling water.
Garnish with an orange wedge or wheel.
All that’s left to do is sip and savor your Portuguese Spritz. Saúde!
Variations
After you try this Portuguese Spritz recipe, feel free to get creative. Here are some ideas to get your juices flowing:
Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Portuguese Spritz is a sparkling wine cocktail crafted with Per Se, sparkling wine and sparkling water.
Per Se (Portuguese spirit), Sparkling Wine (preferably Portuguese espumante), Sparkling Water, Ice Cubes and an Orange Wedge or Wheel
The Portuguese Spritz is stirred, not shaken.
Portuguese Spritz Recipe
Learn how craft a Portuguese Spritz at home just a few ingredients. It’s the next best thing to sipping the sparkling cocktail in Portugal.
Servings: 1
Calories: 190kcal
- 3 ounces sparkling wine (preferably Portuguese espumante – chilled)
- 2 ounces Per Se (Portuguese spirit -chilled)
- 1 ounce sparkling water (chilled)
- ice cubes
- 1 orange wedge or wheel (garnish)
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Fill a wine glass half way with ice cubes.
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Add sparkling wine and Per Se into the glass.
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Gently stir.
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Top with sparkling water.
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Garnish with an orange wedge or wheel.
Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 29IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.4mg
