Muddled Nectarine Aperol Spritz – Recipe!

The abundance of fresh ripe fruit during the summertime provides a great opportunity to create some of the tastiest cocktails.  Stone fruit; like plums, peaches, apricots and nectarines can add some of the best flavoring, especially when muddled in an adult beverage this time of the year.  A cool bubbly spritz on a warm evening is one of my favorite things to sip and in this drink, I gently press nectarines in a glass with a teaspoon of sugar, and add Aperol and Elderflower Cordial, along with champagne and sparkling water for a delightful twist on a classic Italian spritz.

I prefer to keep the fruit whole in my drink, but you can always muddle and strain for just the juice.  I look at it this way — if I include the whole piece of fruit, I’m getting a serving of something good for me, and a cocktail in one — it’s a win win.  Nectarines have a thin skin, so I don’t mind the texture floating about my spritz and in fact, I think it adds character and infuses a tad more fruity taste.  You can always double or triple this recipe and make it in a pitcher ahead of time, and pour into glasses, then top with champagne and sparkling water before serving for larger gatherings.  Cheers!

Ingredients

1 nectarine, sliced + more for garnish

2 teaspoons sugar

8 ounces Aperol

1 ounce Elderflower Cordial or liqueur

8 ounces champagne

8 ounces sparkling water

2 mint sprigs, optional

ice, optional

(Makes 2 Cocktails)

To Prepare:

1. In two large wine or cocktail glasses, add half of nectarines and sugar in each, muddle (press) with wooden spoon handle or dowel.
2. Top with Aperol, stir.  Top with Elderflower Cordial, stir.  You can add a big ice cube at this point if you want drink on the rocks.
3. Add half of champagne in each glass and half of sparkling water in each glass.
4. Place nectarine slices on rims and mint sprigs in glasses.  Enjoy!