Italy’s popular Bicicletta summer spritz cocktail is as easy to make as to ride a bicycle.

Summer is here and this is the time for relaxed garden parties. Or perhaps an impromptu pre-dinner aperitivo gathering.

Speaking of aperitivo, Italy’s famous pre-dinner period tradition which combines a glass of wine or cocktail and some light snacks to whet one’s appetite, does have its favourite seasonal go-to cocktails.

Once temperatures warm up, this includes the refreshing, low alcohol spritz cocktails.

So, for your next aperitivo at home I have the perfect summer cocktail recipe for you. 

This refreshing, delicious cocktail is part of the popular, Campari-based cocktail family which has given us such classics like the Aperol Spritz, Americano, or the heavier Negroni.

Translating to bicycle, the Bicicletta Cocktail, like so many Campari-based cocktails, was invented in Milan in the 1930s. As legend goes, the cocktail takes its name from the preferred method of transportation (the bicycle) of elderly man consuming the cocktail in the afternoon or evening before returning home for dinner on their bicycles.

If you like Aperol Spritz, or even the classic Campari Orange, you can be assured you will like the Bicicletta cocktail too. In fact, the only difference to Aperol Spritz consists in swapping prosecco with white wine. The result is a slightly sharper bitterness, as the white wine allows the typical Campari flavour to shine through more prominently.

To bring it to the point, the Bicicletta is the grown-up version of the Aperol Spritz.

How to make a Bicicletta Cocktail

This popular Campari-based cocktail requires only three ingredients and is mixed in almost no time.

Chances are you already have the ingredients you need at home. On the other hand, if you like to experiment with flavour, the Bicicletta is the perfect drink to do so. Swap Campari for another bitter liqueur, or club soda for a refreshing lemonade or flavoured tonic water and you are ending up with delicious variations.

Serves 1

90 ml dry white wine
60 ml Campari
Club soda
Orange wheel (optional)

Fill a cocktail glass with abundant ice. Add white wine and Campari and lightly stir to combine. Top up with club soda.

Garnish with an orange wheel.

Enjoy!