Suze Spritz — French gentian aperitif spritz

Suze Spritz

French gentian aperitif spritz

Number of people

Ingredients

  • 2 dashesAngostura Orange Bitters
    Bright citrus notes
    Substitute: Regans' Orange No. 6
  • 1 twistLemon Peel
    Fresh lemon peel
    Substitute: Orange peel acceptable
  • 3 ozProsecco
    Italian sparkling wine
    Substitute: Champagne acceptable
  • 1 ozSoda Water
    For effervescence
    Substitute: Tonic water variant
  • 2 ozSuze
    French gentian aperitif
    Substitute: Avèze acceptable

Instructions

  1. Add 2 oz Suze to wine glass filled with ice
  2. Add 2 dashes orange bitters
  3. Add 3 oz Prosecco
  4. Top with 1 oz soda water
  5. Stir gently and garnish with lemon peel

Technique Notes

Suze is bone-dry, so this format needs a prosecco with some sugar in it. A brut leaves the gentian with nothing to push against and the drink reads austere.

Why the Suze Spritz Works

Suze's gentian root is bone-dry and floral-bitter, which is why the format leans on Prosecco's residual sugar more than an Aperol Spritz does — the wine sweetens what the liqueur won't. Orange bitters and the peel pull citrus through, taming the gentian without softening it.

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