The Best Ratio For A Tasty Tequila Spritz
Much like sangria, the spritz cocktail is kind of a catchall, meaning it can be made with infinite variations. Start with a spirit, balance out the flavors and sweetness, and top with something bubbly. While the Aperol spritz is certainly delicious and easy, having a basic ratio is a must if you're looking to play with the distinctive and versatile flavors of tequila. Once you know the ratio for the tequila spritz, you can customize your spritzes to suit your palate in terms of flavor and alcoholic strength.
The ideal starting point for the perfect tequila spritz is 2 ounces of tequila, 2 ounces of an aperitif, topped with 4-6 ounces of something bubbly – prosecco, cava, soda, sparkling water, or even tonic water. Once you know the ratio, the fun really starts. Choose from blanco, reposado, or añejo tequila, or switch out the aperitif for a cordial or fruit juice.
Whether you're looking for a cocktail that's sweet and fruit-forward or smoky and complex, the tequila spritz ratio is your springboard to a fresh slate of drinks that are bright, fresh, and full of flavor. Feel free to play with infusing your tequila with cucumbers or pineapple or floating a few sprigs of herbs like lime basil or mint. If the ratio ends up boozier than you prefer, splash in some extra bubbles or even some club soda to tame it to your liking.
What are some flavors to kick off your tequila spritz adventure?
Since tequila's best-known varieties are blanco, reposado, and añejo, step one is to select which kind you'll use as the base of your spritz. Blanco tequila works with a wide variety of flavors; you can simply make a boozier play on the Aperol Spritz with 2 ounces of blanco tequila, 2 ounces of Aperol, and a generous 4-6 ounces of cava. Or make a pineapple spritz following the same ratios and swap the Aperol for pineapple juice and prosecco for the cava. If you prefer something brighter and tarter in flavor, try the blanco tequila with limoncello and pour in cava — and don't forget to garnish with a lemon twist.
Reposado tequilas are a bit deeper in flavor, making spritzes that are a bit sturdier. Try 2 ounces of reposado with some peach nectar and prosecco for a tequila-forward take on a bellini or for the El Diablo cocktail, which features reposado tequila, roughly 1 ounce each of lime juice and creme de cassis, topped with ginger beer.
And for when you're craving a full-on añejo spritz, mix it in with 2 ounces of sweet vermouth topped with prosecco for a play on a sbagliato or brighten up your añejo with a couple of shots of bitters, 2 ounces of Cointreau, topped with 4-6 ounces of cava. For something smokier, swap out some mezcal for tequila, and you'll have an entirely different take on an agave-based spritz. Just remember that no matter how you serve it up, it's the ratio that's key.