This year swicy is trendy in cocktails. Add sweet to spicy and you’ve got swicy. To honor this trend, I took traditional spritz recipes and spiced them up to be swicy. The Swicy Rosemary Spritz is made with Aperitivo Rosato – tastes much like Aperol but it has more of a peachy flavor instead of the orange taste in Aperol. You’ll find it in the same section of the ABC or grocery store as Aperol. Chili oil is the secret ingredient that livens up this classic cocktail.
Swicy Rosemary Spritz
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 1/2 ounces Aperitivo Rosato
- 1 ounce rosemary simple syrup
- 3 ounces chilled Prosecco
- Splash sparkling water
- 5 drops chili oil chili oil is spicy chili extract infused into sesame oil, Sun Luck brand is recommended for this recipe
- Garnish: small fresh rosemary sprig and 1 fresh peach slice or chunk of peach
Instructions
- To make rosemary simple syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low.
- Simmer for 2 minutes and remove from heat.
- Cover and let the rosemary steep for 30 minutes.
- Remove the rosemary from the syrup and discard.
- When the syrup is completely cool, place in a mason jar, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- To make cocktail: Fill a wine glass half full with ice cubes. Add the Rosato Aperitivo and rosemary simple syrup. Stir gently with a long handled spoon. Top with Prosecco and a splash of sparkling water.
- Drizzle the chili oil drops over the top of the spritz.
- Garnish with a small fresh rosemary sprig and a peach slice or chunk on a cocktail pick.
My Chinese Five Spice has sultry notes of star anise, cinnamon and Sichuan peppercorns with a touch of cloves. Perfect spices to compliment the orange flavor of the Aperol. The star anise garnish is a fun secret ingredient in my cocktail.
Chinese Five Spice Aperol Spritz
Equipment
- cheese cloth
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Chinese five spice
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 ounces Aperol
- 3 ounces Prosecco
- splash sparkling water
- garnish: orange slice and 2 star anise
Instructions
- To make the Chinese five spice simple syrup: Cut a 6-inch square piece of cheese cloth. Double it over and place 1 tablespoon Chinese five spice in the middle of the square. Wrap the cheese cloth around the Chinese five spice, twist the top and tie with a small piece of string. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Add the Chinese five spice cheese cloth sachet to the syrup and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 2 minute. Remove from heat, cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Remove the Chinese five spice sachet from the syrup and discard. When the syrup is completely cool, place it in a mason jar, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- To make the cocktail: Fill a wine glass full with ice cubes. Add the Aperol and one ounce of the Chinese five spice simple syrup. Stir gently with a long handled spoon. Top with Prosecco and a splash of sparkling water. Garnish with orange slice and 2 star anise.
