Spritz : Italy's Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, With Recipes (Hardcover) (Talia Baiocchi)

About the Book

A narrative-driven book on the surprising history and current revival of spritz cocktails (a wine-based drink served as an aperitif), with 50 recipes, including both historical classics and modern updates.

Book Synopsis

A narrative-driven book on the surprising history and current revival of spritz cocktails (a wine-based drink served as an aperitif), with 50 recipes, including both historical classics and modern updates.

From Milan to Los Angeles, Venice to New York, the spritz--Italy's bitter and bubbly aperitivo cocktail--has become synonymous with a leisurely, convivial golden hour. But the spritz is more than just an early evening cocktail--it's a style of drinking. In Spritz, Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau trace the drink's origins to ancient Rome, uncover its unlikely history and culture, explore the evolution of aperitivo throughout Northern Italy, and document the spritz's revival around the world. From regional classics to modern variations, Spritz includes dozens of recipes from some of America's most lauded bartenders, a guide to building a spritz bar, and a collection of food recipes for classic Italian snacks to pair alongside.

Review Quotes

2017 JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION BOOK AWARD NOMINEE: BEVERAGE

"Some of the most pleasant hours I've ever spent have involved sipping spritzes, nibbling from little bowls of olives or potato chips or whatnot, and watching the life of whatever Italian town I'm in go by as the waiter lazily circles around to see if I'd like another. Spritz is the perfect introduction to that unique culture."
--David Wondrich, author of Imbibe! and Punch

"These brilliantly illustrated pages deliver a supremely approachable account of the spritz while unveiling the deeper meaning of the drink--one that flows far beyond its flirty fizz. Spritz offers a beautifully rendered portrait of an iconic cocktail, an indispensable guide for channeling the spirit of Italian cocktail culture at home, and a drop-dead gorgeous visual experience."
--Katie Parla, co-author of Tasting Rome

"The ... book is compact (it would live nicely atop a crowded bar cart), beautifully illustrated, and filled with anecdotes and recipes for classic takes as well as more modern iterations from top bartenders."
- Vanity Fair

"Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau's extensively researched history of the cocktail comes with enough spritz spins to make it through every beautiful day of the year, plus recipes for the food to match with them, like mondechili, the country-style meatballs found in northern Italy."
- Saveur

"... the authors make an excellent case for the chic, Italian-style cocktail--bubbly, low in alcohol, and with an edge of bitterness, it's ideal for sipping in the golden hour before dinner.
- Bloomberg

"The beautiful tome explores the history of the classic cocktail and provides 50 different recipes for drinks and snacks to try at home. Each recipes sits beside a full color photograph and elegantly chosen typography."
- Mental Floss

Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau 's "Spritz: Italy's Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, With Recipes" is a compact volume that touches deftly on drink history and throws in a dash of travelogue. But it is built around the recipes, which suggest that with just a few building blocks ingenuity can flow and flavors blossom.
- Wall Street Journal

This saucy beauty of a book manages to capture the easy chic of modern Italian life and the delicious simplicity of spritzing.
- Food Republic

Beautifully designed, small enough to slip into a tiny tote bag, and full of 50 recipes for both drinks and snacks to nibble on while sipping, this book is as refreshing as its namesake drink: Italy's iconic spritz.
- Saveur

... smart, fun to read and look at and unquestionably approachable.
- New York Observer

About The Author

Talia Baiocchi is the editor-in-chief of Punch and the author of James Beard Award-nominated Sherry. She has written for Bon Appétit, Saveur, and many more. She lives in Brooklyn.

Leslie Pariseau is the former deputy editor of Punch. She has written for the New York Times, GQ, Esquire, and Saveur. She lives in Brooklyn.

PUNCH is a James Beard Award-winning media brand dedicated to drinks and drinking culture.