Red Velvet Spritzer by Cocktail Therapy

Celebrations.com experts Cocktail Therapy have the how-to on this fabulous red concoction for the holidays.  The "spritz" is a classic Italian before-dinner drink, or aperitivo, traditional in Northern Italy but now consumed all over the peninsula.  It is almost always accompanied by small bowls of snacks, like salted peanuts, salty potato chips, olives, and tiny sandwiches of prosciutto and cheese.

Ingredients:

1 ounce Aperol (Aperol is an Italian herb-infused liqueur. Its red color is what makes this drink so bright.  You can probably find Aperol in your local liquor store--if not, it's easy to order online.)

4 ounces Prosecco (Italian sparkling white wine, lighter and cheaper than Champagne)

1-2 ounces club soda

Lemon twist

Directions:

Fill a rocks glass right up to the brim with ice.

Pour liquid ingredients into the glass in the order listed above.

To make the lemon twist, just use a vegetable peeler to remove a strip of lemon skin.  

Then gently twist it above the drink, pass it around the rim of the glass, and drop it in the drink.

Cheers, or, as they say in Italian, "Cin-cin!"