7.9.09

How to Survie the Heat - Try an Aperol Spritz or not if you don't like bitter drinks

Rendezvous Aperol Art Print
August and September are typically super hot and dry here in Orange, and this year has been no exception. It is also the first year in at least six years that Mr C or myself have been without air conditioning. It is frequently over 95 in the living room, and the indoor temperature typically stays in the high 80's overnight. We have been, in a word - melting.

Hot and lazy Sundays always make us crave a simple drink that cools and refreshes.

We have been frequenting a new wine shop in town that has a huge selection, 10 cent wine tastings, and obscure liquors. Last week, I stumbled upon a bottle of Aperol in the aperitif aisle. I tried Aperol while traveling in Italy in college. A friend of mine was studying abroad for the year and some of our group went out to visit. He had been told that when in Venice, we must try a cocktail called a Spritz al Aperol. We had several rounds of them in Venice and I remember the drink being refreshing and tasty. I also remember it having an olive floating in it. It sounded like the perfect drink to cools us off this evening.

I bought the supplies to make a Spritz al Aperol (but forgot the olives) and followed the recipe on the back of the bottle.

Experiment 1
1 1/2 oz Aperol
2 oz dry sparkling wine
a splash of sparkling water

Mrs C says - "The drink is more of an orange color than I remember, and really good until the bitter aftertaste catches up with you."

Mr C says - "Refreshing followed by a bitter explosion"

Experiment 2
1 1/2 oz Aperol
2 oz sparkling wine
a splash of sparkling water
slice of lemon

Mrs C says - "I think that helped make it better- Oh no, no, here comes the bitter again"

Mr C says - "I think that made it worse."

Experiment 3
1 oz Aperol
2 oz sparkling wine
2 oz sparkling water

Mrs C says - "Better. Less of a shock to the taste buds, although still a bit rough on the aftertaste"

Mr C says - "Still bitter. I don't like bitter. At all."

Mr C's final tally 1 out of 10 taste buds

Mrs C's final tally 5 out of 10 taste buds