Strawberry Amaretto Spritz

Fresh, fruity, and wonderfully refreshing, this strawberry amaretto spritz combines muddled berries, sparkling wine, and almond liqueur into an elegant summer drink. If you’re looking for a strawberry spritz with amaretto that’s balanced rather than overly sweet, this recipe is a delicious place to start.

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Hey folks – I hope you all are doing well!

The recent heat wave inspired me to make another refreshing summer cocktail, and this one quickly became a favourite. Fresh strawberries are at their seasonal best, while amaretto adds just enough warmth and richness without taking over. Finished with sparkling wine, it’s light enough for a warm afternoon yet elegant enough for entertaining. So, let’s dive into this refreshing strawberry spritz with amaretto!

What Is A Spritz?

A spritz is a refreshing cocktail built around sparkling wine, usually paired with a liqueur or spirit and often finished with a splash of sparkling water. Served over plenty of ice, spritzes are known for their crisp, bubbly character and relatively moderate alcohol content, making them perfect for warm weather.

Classic examples include the Aperol Spritz, Hugo Spritz, Campari Spritz, Limoncello Spritz, and St-Germain Spritz. This Strawberry Amaretto Spritz follows the same refreshing concept but swaps bitters for sweet almond-flavoured amaretto and plenty of fresh strawberries, creating a fruit-forward seasonal variation.

What Makes This Strawberry Amaretto Spritz Special

Strawberries And Amaretto Work Beautifully Together

Strawberries and almonds have long been a classic flavour combination, especially in European baking. Amaretto brings delicate almond notes with hints of vanilla and stone fruit that naturally enhance fresh strawberries rather than masking them. The result is an amaretto strawberry cocktail with more depth and complexity than many berry cocktails made with neutral spirits.

This pairing also makes the drink feel elegant while remaining approachable. The strawberries stay front and centre, while the amaretto quietly adds richness in the background.

Sparkling Wine Creates A Light And Balanced Cocktail

Sparkling wine is what transforms this drink from a simple strawberry cocktail into a refreshing spritz. Its lively bubbles and bright acidity balance both the fruit and the sweetness of the amaretto, ensuring every sip feels crisp instead of rich.

That’s why this strawberry sparkling wine cocktail works equally well before dinner, at brunch, or during an afternoon on the patio. The bubbles also help carry the fresh strawberry aroma, making the drink feel even lighter.

Fresh Lemon Keeps The Flavours Bright

A small amount of fresh lemon juice makes a noticeable difference. It brightens the strawberries, balances the almond sweetness, and keeps the cocktail refreshing from the first sip to the last.

Without that citrus lift, a strawberry amaretto spritz cocktail can taste considerably sweeter. Instead, the lemon ties all the flavours together while allowing the fruit to remain the star.

Rosé Sparkling Wine Makes An Excellent Variation

Although a dry white sparkling wine is the traditional choice, rosé sparkling wine pairs exceptionally well with strawberries. Its subtle berry character complements the fresh fruit, creating a beautiful strawberry rosé spritz with a slightly fuller fruit profile.

If you prefer something crisper and more citrus-forward, choose a Brut Prosecco or another dry sparkling wine. Either way, this strawberry cocktail with amaretto remains refreshing, balanced, and perfect for summer.

Ingredients You’ll Need For This Strawberry Amaretto Spritz

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this strawberry amaretto spritz, and each one contributes something important to the finished drink. Since the ingredient list is so short, choosing ripe strawberries and a dry sparkling wine makes a noticeable difference.

• Fresh strawberries – The star of the cocktail. Choose ripe, fragrant berries for the best flavour and colour. Muddling them releases both their juices and aroma.
• Amaretto – Adds sweet almond notes that naturally complement strawberries. Use about ¼ oz (7 ml) for a lighter, drier cocktail or ½ oz (15 ml)—or even a little more, as I did—for a richer strawberry spritz with amaretto.
• Fresh lemon juice – Balances the sweetness while making the strawberries taste brighter and fresher.
• Sparkling wine – Provides crisp acidity and lively bubbles that define a spritz.
• Soda water (optional) – A splash makes the cocktail even lighter and slightly lowers the alcohol content.
• Ice – Plenty of ice keeps the drink cold and refreshing without requiring excessive dilution.

Best Sparkling Wine For A Strawberry Amaretto Spritz

One of the nicest things about this strawberry amaretto spritz cocktail is that it works with several styles of sparkling wine. Each creates a slightly different character while keeping the cocktail light and refreshing.

• Prosecco – My overall recommendation. Crisp, fruity, and approachable, it complements both the strawberries and the amaretto without overpowering either.
• Rosé sparkling wine – My favourite variation. The subtle red berry notes pair beautifully with fresh strawberries, creating an elegant strawberry rosé spritz with even more fruit character.
• Brut sparkling wine – A drier choice that lets the strawberries shine while balancing the sweetness of the amaretto.
• Cava – Offers a slightly more citrusy, mineral-driven profile for a refreshing strawberry sparkling wine cocktail.
• Champagne – Ideal for special occasions when you want a more refined version.
• Extra Dry sparkling wine – A good option if you enjoy a slightly softer, fruitier cocktail.

Should You Add Soda Water?

That depends on the style of cocktail you prefer.

Add a splash of soda water if you want to:

• make the cocktail lighter
• reduce the alcohol slightly
• soften the sweetness
• create a longer, more refreshing drink for hot weather

Skip the soda if you prefer:

• a fuller sparkling wine flavour
• more pronounced strawberry and amaretto notes
• a richer strawberry cocktail with amaretto
• a slightly more festive, wine-forward spritz

How To Make A Strawberry Amaretto Spritz

Add the muddled strawberries, amaretto, and fresh lemon juice to a wine glass filled with ice, then pour in the sparkling wine and stir gently to combine. If you’d like a lighter strawberry spritz with amaretto, finish with a splash of soda water. Garnish with a fresh strawberry or a slice of lemon and serve immediately while the bubbles are lively. This strawberry amaretto spritz cocktail comes together in just a few minutes, making it an excellent choice whenever you’re craving a refreshing strawberry sparkling wine cocktail.

Variations And Serving Ideas

• Make it richer. Increase the amaretto to ½ oz (15 ml) or even a little more for a fuller amaretto strawberry cocktail with more pronounced almond flavour.
• Keep it lighter. Use only ¼ oz (7 ml) of amaretto and finish the strawberry spritz with amaretto with a splash of soda water for an even more refreshing drink.
• Try rosé sparkling wine. It creates a beautiful strawberry rosé spritz with subtle berry notes that naturally complement the fresh strawberries.
• Choose Prosecco for a classic version. A dry Prosecco makes a crisp, refreshing strawberry prosecco cocktail that’s balanced and easy to drink.
• Experiment with other sparkling wines. Brut sparkling wine, Cava, or Champagne all make excellent strawberry sparkling wine cocktails, each with its own personality.
• Add fresh herbs. Garnish with mint for extra freshness or basil for a subtle herbal note that pairs beautifully with strawberries.
• Mix in more berries. A few raspberries or blackberries add colour and another layer of fruit flavour without changing the character of the cocktail.
• Use frozen strawberries. They help keep the drink cold while adding less dilution than extra ice.
• Pair with light appetizers. Try mild cheeses, crostini, charcuterie, fresh fruit, or simple summer salads that won’t overpower the delicate strawberry and almond flavours.

More Light Summer Cocktails

If you enjoy this sparkling wine spritz with strawberry and amaretto, you may also like these refreshing seasonal drinks:

• Blackberry Violet Spritz with Crème de Violette
• Strawberry Violet Spritz with Gin and Crème de Violette
• Strawberry Violet French 75 
• Rhubarb Violet Fizz with Crème de Violett 

I’d love for you to try spritz with strawberries and amaretto. If you give it a go, please share your results in the comments, message me on Instagram, or post your photos with the hashtag #havocinthekitchen. I look forward to seeing your creations and hearing your thoughts.

Cheers!