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With roots in the Veneto, the Cynar Spritz is built around a unique artichoke based spirit. The earthy, herbaceous sparkling cocktail is a wonderful summer sipper that tastes great at any time of the year.
PinSome spritzes are almost too easy to sip. Not particularly sweet, the Cynar Spritz isn’t one of those spritzes. And, yet, we fell for the surprisingly earthy spritz during an extended aperitivo session during our most recent visit to Italy.
We assumed that languorous Venice cicchetti bar encounter would be the end of our Cynar Spritz affair but we were wrong. As it turns out, Cynar is easy to find at liquor stores both in Portugal and the US. And, like all classic spritzes, this Italian cocktail is super easy to make at home.
PinThe Cynar Spritz is a bubbly cocktail that’s made with a 3:2:1 ratio of chilled prosecco, Cynar and fizzy water. Ice and an orange garnish complete the recipe.
Compared to other spritzes, the Cynar Spritz skews earthy and lightly bitter. It’s also far less sweet than the globally popular Aperol Spritz.
PinYou need the following ingredients to craft a Cynar Spritz at home:
Ingredient quantities are detailed in the printable recipe card below.
PinCynar is notable for its unlikely namesake ingredient, which happens to be the artichoke. The Latin word for artichoke is cynara, which is where the liqueur gets its name. Italians have been eating artichokes for centuries, though drinking them is a relatively new concept.
Rino Dondi Pinto had the foresight to combine the thistle’s leaves with 13 botanicals while working at a Padua distillery during the 1940s. After debuting in 1952, Cynar is now part of the Campari empire and a staple at Italian bars.
Especially popular during aperitivo sessions in Veneto cities like Venice, Cynar has a vegetal flavor that reminds us of root beer. But the brown amaro isn’t just that one note. It’s also bittersweet and has a kick thanks to its 16.5% ABV.
Cynar Pronunciation
Cynar is pronounced CHEE-nar. Following Italian pronunciation rules, the “cy” makes a “ch” sound similar to the Italian word ciao.
PinThe first step in this Cynar Spritz recipe is to open a chilled prosecco bottle. Do this carefully by placing your thumb across the top of the bottle to avoid an annoying mess or, even worse, an eye injury.
Measure the prosecco and Cynar. Immediately pour both liquids into a wine glass. We use a Japanese jigger for this step to ensure accurate measuerements and minimize spillage.
Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.
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PinFill the glass half way with ice.
PinGently stir the liquids with a bar spoon.
PinTop the glass with chilled sparkling water and garnish with an orange wedge or wheel.
Cynar Spritz Garnish Options
You can alternatively garnish your Cynar Spritz with a lemon slice or a green olive.
PinServe the crafted Cynar Spritz with olives and other nibbles.
PinThe Cynar Spritz is bitter but not aggressively so. It sits somewhere between the gentle sweetness of the Aperol Spritz and the full bitter punch of the Campari Spritz.
The spritz’s earthiness, which reminds us of root beer, softens its herbaceous bitterness. In fact, we were initially surprised by the vegetal flavor. However, although it’s a complex drink, we had no challenge sipping our intitial Cynar Spritz until the glass was empty
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PinAperol and Cynar are both Italian aperitivo liqueurs but they taste quite different. Aperol is sweeter, more citrus-forward and lower in alcohol with an 11% ABV. Cynar is drier, earthier, and stronger with a 16.5% ABV.
The Aperol Spritz is easier to sip. Plus, it’s vibfrantly orange. Despite its brown color, the Cynar Spritz is a better pick if you prefer a drink with less sweetness and more complexity.
PinAfter you craft a Cynar Spritz, broaden your spritz repertoire with more of our fizzy favorites:
Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.
Cynar Spritz Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ounces prosecco chilled
- 2 ounces Cynar
- 1 ounce fizzy water chilled
- ice cubes
- 1 slice orange garnish
Instructions
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Pour the prosecco and Cynar into a wine glass.
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Fill the glass half way with ice and gently stir.
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Top the glass with fizzy water.
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Garnish with an orange slice or wedge.
Notes
- You can replace the prosecco with another dry sparkling wine like cava or espumante.
- You can use club soda, soda water or sparkling water in this recipe.
- Serve with green olives and other aperitivo snacks.
Nutrition
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
The Cynar Spritz is an Italian spritz crafted with prosecco, Cynar and sparkling water in the classic 3:2:1 spritz ratio
The Cynar Spritz was invented in Padua, Italy. Located in the Veneto, Padua is less than 50 miles from Venice.
Cynar, Prosecco, Sparkling Water, Ice Cubes and an Orange Slice or Wedge for Garnish
Cynar is an Italian amaro that’s made from artichokes and 13 botanicals. The herbaceous spirit was first produced in Padua in the 1940s and officially launched in 1952. Cynar is now produced by the Campari group.
Cynar and Aperol are both Italian aperitivo liqueurs but they differ significantly in both flavor and alcohol content. Sweeter and citrus-forward, Aperol has an 11% ABV. Cynar is drier, earthier and stronger with a 16.5% ABV.
The Cynar Spritz is stirred, not shaken.
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