If you scan the tables of any crowded piazza, you might think the world is divided into just two camps: the neon orange of Aperol and the crimson red of Campari. But to stop there is to deny yourself a vast universe of Italian alcohol. The second part of the classic “3-2-1” formula (3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts bitter, 1 splash of soda) is interchangeable, and beyond the big brands lies a whole world of regional amari, alpine herbs, and floral liqueurs waiting to be transformed by bubbles. From the savory Cynar to the elderflower-filled Hugo, there’s a spritz for every palate—and every personality. Here’s your sign’s spirited match:
ARIES
Aries is the spark that lights the fuse, the cardinal fire sign that demands to be where the action is. Naturally, they are the CAMPARI SPRITZ. Invented by Gaspare Campari in Novara in 1860—and later cemented as a design icon at the Camparino in Milan’s Galleria—this drink is as historically bold and unapologetic as the sign itself. Just as Gaspare concocted this secret recipe of 60 ingredients to capture the “red passion” of a unifying Italy, Aries lives life with an intensity that cannot be diluted by soda water. The biting bitterness hits the palate with a direct punch that weak-willed drinkers might find aggressive, but an Aries calls “honest.”
TAURUS
Let the other signs posture over bitterness levels; Taurus is here for a good time, not a hard time. These earth signs are the LIMONCELLO SPRITZ. While the origins of limoncello are fiercely contested between the grandmothers of Capri, the fishermen of Amalfi, and the monks of Sorrento, the outcome is a liqueur that captures the blinding brilliance of the midday sun. Taurus rules over material pleasures and the slow life, and they appreciate that the sugary lemon-scentedness of this spritz makes it feel like a dessert one can drink before dinner. While they aren’t necessarily the sunniest of the signs—often preferring a quieter corner to a loud crowd—they are unapologetically sensual. For Taurus, life is a curated pursuit of warmth and comfort, and why should they suffer through herbal complexity when they can indulge in liquid sunshine?
GEMINI
“I’ll have an Aperol. No, wait, a Campari. Actually…” Gemini’s match is the SPRITZ MISTO. A chaotic but brilliant mix of half-Aperol and half-Campari, this drink bridges the gap between the sweetness of the former and the bitterness of the latter. It’s the perfect liquid solution for the sign that contains multitudes. Gemini gets the sugary sociability and mass appeal on the tip of their tongue, followed immediately by a sharp, intellectual kick of bitterness. It’s a spritz that—like the sign itself—can play both sides of the argument and still be the most interesting guest at the party. It refuses to be defined by a single label, offering a best-of-both-worlds scenario that satisfies the twins’ eternal indecision.
CANCER
The world can often be too sharp for Cancer, which is why they retreat into cozy things like the HUGO SPRITZ. A relatively modern invention, created in 2005 by bartender Roland Gruber in the mountains of South Tyrol, it was originally designed as a floral alternative to the ubiquitous Venetian spritz. Cancers are the nurturers of the zodiac, ruled by the Moon, and this blend of elderflower syrup, prosecco, and fresh mint offers this exact sort of gentle, old-soul energy in cocktail form. Born from the rugged Dolomites yet soft on the palate, it mirrors the Cancerian paradox: a tough exterior protecting a sweet (sweet!) interior.
LEO
Leo was never going to be an obscure, underground amaro known only to three bartenders in Turin. These fire signs are the APEROL SPRITZ—the star, the icon, the reason anyone cares about spritzes to begin with. Unveiled by the Barbieri brothers at the Padova International Fair in 1919, it took nearly a century to conquer the world, but now its neon-orange glow dominates Instagram feeds and piazzas alike. It’s universally liked, incredibly photogenic, and thrives in the spotlight—just like these lions. Some might call the Aperol Spritz “mainstream” because of its immense popularity, but Leo knows the truth: it’s not mainstream; it’s a classic. Like a Leo, it brings the party wherever it goes, demanding that all eyes (and cameras) be on the glass. (Though, much like the cloying aftertaste of too many Aperol Spritzes, a Leo’s self-centered streak can occasionally lead to a bit of a localized headache.)
VIRGO
While the rest of the zodiac gets lost in splashy variations, Virgo craves the source: the SPRITZ BIANCO. This is the original spritz, dating back to the 19th century when Austro-Hungarian soldiers in Veneto, finding local wines too strong, asked to spray (spritzen) a bit of water into them. No red dyes, no secret herbs, just good white wine and sparkling water (and maybe a slice of lemon, if we’re feeling wild). It’s crisp, precise, and stain-free. A messy Aperol glass leaving a sticky orange ring on the table is absolute nightmare fuel for a Virgo, who prefers the transparent honesty of the Bianco: what you see is exactly what you get.
LIBRA
Ruled by Venus, Libra seeks harmony above all else, often paralyzed by the choice between the aggression of a bitter and the cloying nature of a sweet. The elegant solution is the ITALICUS SPRITZ. A revival of the historic Rosolio—once the drink of the court for the Kings of Savoy—it bypasses the herbal warfare of other amaros in favor of pure refinement. With notes of fragrant Calabrian bergamot and gentle rose petals, it’s a Libra-like diplomat in a glass: perfectly balanced, undeniably sophisticated, and impossible to dislike. What other spritz could be as smooth, charming, and socially graceful as a Libra itself?
SCORPIO
Dark, mysterious, and arguably good for the digestion, Scorpio is the CYNAR SPRITZ. Launched in 1952, Cynar became famous for its ads featuring actor Ernesto Calindri sipping it amidst the chaotic traffic of Milan to combat “the strain of modern life.” Made from 13 herbs and plants—predominantly the artichoke—this savory, brownish-red drink is an acquired taste, and that’s exactly how a Scorpio likes it. Known for their protective outer shells and their many layers, much like the artichoke, Scorpios don’t open up to just anyone. But for those brave enough to get past the initial bitter bite, there is a complex, vegetative richness that no other sign can offer. Plus, the Cynar Spritz isn’t particularly refreshing, as many spritzes are; rather, it’s a drink for the water signs who want to taste something, to feel something. In that way, they’re both addictive—once you fall for one, it’s usually for life.
SAGITTARIUS
The traveler of the zodiac, forever dreaming of the next escape, Sagittarius is the MIRTO SPRITZ. Hailing from the wild, windswept island of Sardinia, this drink is made from myrtle berries—a plant sacred to Venus but harvested by rugged shepherds and bandits for centuries. For these fire signs, it might bring to mind granite rocks, Mediterranean scrub, and the limited possibilities of the open sea. Mirto is adventurous, fruity, and balsamic—a little bit wild, just like these archers. A Sagittarius cannot be contained by the borders of a standard cocktail menu; they need a drink that tastes like a trip that they don’t have a return ticket from, a sip that transports them straight to Italy’s second-largest island.
CAPRICORN
Trends fade, but institutions last, and Capricorn respects nothing if not an institution. They’re the SELECT SPRITZ. Born in the Castello district of Venice in 1920 by the Pilla brothers, Select is the true Venetian aperitivo, predating the widespread fame of its orange cousin. It’s drier, more complex, and inextricable from aperitivo (and Venetian) history. Capricorn appreciates that it must be garnished strictly with a green olive—not for decoration, but because that is The Rule, and Capricorns love a good rule. They are sophisticated, grounded, and they know that true quality stands the test of time. While others chase the “drink of the summer,” Capricorn sticks to the drink of the century.
AQUARIUS
Why be orange or red when one can be… neon green? Aquarius is the P31 GREEN SPRITZ. An eccentric newcomer from Padova, this drink defies the norms of what an aperitivo “should” look like. Formulated after years of research into medicinal herbs like chamomile, linden, and vanilla, it combines ancient herbal knowledge with a futuristic, shockingly green aesthetic. In other words, the perfect match for the zodiac’s rebel. Aquarius loves it because it sparks conversation (“What is that?”), and because it proves that one doesn’t need to follow the crowd to be delicious. Like Aquarius, this spritz is a declaration of independence in a sea of sunset orange.
PISCES
Reality is often just a suggestion that Pisces politely declines, preferring the dreamscape of things like the VIOLET SPRITZ—a chromatic shift into the surreal, crafted by swirling violet liqueur or syrup into Prosecco to create a shimmering pool of amethyst. The drink pays homage to the historic Violetta di Parma, a flower so beloved by the 19th-century Duchess Marie Louise of Austria that she urged monks to distill its essence into a perfume, and later, a liqueur. Floral, sweet, and hauntingly perfumed, it belongs in a fairytale, just like Pisces. Sipping this drink is like floating in a fragrant cloud, far away from tax returns and text messages—which is exactly where romantic Pisces wants to be.
