recipe goodness :: italian campari orange spritzer

Campari Orange Spritzer

You can thank my friend Sarah for turning me into a Campari sympathizer from a Campari hater. I used to adamantly decline any Campari drink — the bitterness of any such cocktail made me scrunch my nose up and shake my head like I’d just taken a bite of sour lemon. Until recently.

As we were lounging rooftop, cocktail hour became an appealing pastime and Sarah was in the mood for a Tuscan highball. She begged and pleaded for me to try this concoction. I surrendered. Enter Campari Orange Spritzer, my newfound afternoon sipper of choice. The sweetness of the FRESH squeezed orange juice {buy the real stuff if you can} goes to war on the bitter Campari and turns this combo into a refresher that goes down all too easily. The best part about it is you can make it in 30 seconds flat and the only thing you really need to think ahead to buy is the fresh OJ {providing you have a bottle of Campari and a sodastream for sparkling water on hand}.

Campari Orange Spritzer

For each drink | courtesy of Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics

Highball glass {that will fit 2 1/4 cups liquid + ice}
6 ice cubes {or whatever}
1/4 cup Campari
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 1/2 cups sparkling water {San Pellegrino or Sodastream}
Orange slice or strawberry for garnish

1. Place ice cubes in a highball glass.
2. Add Campari, Orange Juice and top with Sparkling water.
3. Garnish with a strawberry or orange slice.

Other Cocktail O’Clock Recipes:
Alton Brown’s Bourbon Mint Julep
Bottle of Baron {Refreshing “Island Cocktail” a la Tippling Bros.}
Fresh Lime-Margarita Marinated Watermelon
Kickin’ Ancho Chili Fresh Citrus Margarita
Pink Fizzy Lemonade Cocktails Beat the Heat
Smokey Margarita {a la Tippling Bros.}
Stand-Out Spanish Sangria
Summer Strawberry Chilled Chamomile Tea {non-alcoholic}
Spritzy Sunday Morning Citrus Cocktail {non-alcoholic}