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Included in the International Bartenders Association list of contemporary cocktails is the Kir, a simple two ingredient drink perfect for the next Summer heat wave.

The recipe is simple, 9 parts dry white wine to 1 part Crème de Cassis (blackcurrant liqueur). The traditional wine used is called Aligoté, a very dry white wine. But most home bartenders reach for any white wine for their Kir but choosing a sweeter, fruity wine won’t provide the necessary dry/sweet balance when paired with the Cassis.

The Aperol Spritz has been everywhere lately. It’s a San Francisco brunch favorite. I live in the suburbs and a local restaurant even named their happy hour Spritz Hour!

I’m sure you’ve seen it around. Bubbly and bright orange. Day drinking appropriate. Won’t knock you on your butt too fast. Approachable like a glass of wine but enough of a mixed drink to lend a little cocktail cred. But the spritz has been around longer than Aperol so you shouldn’t be afraid to tinker and come up with your own variations. 

Italy's most famous cocktails are red, bitter, and have fool proof ratios.  The spritz may be summer's darling, but this week it's all about Negronis.

Check out our team's 7 favorite variations and mix along at home!  Don't have an exact ingredient? Feel free to improvise with our Negroni Cocktail Madlib instruction sheet!