3 Summer Spritz Recipes From Good Guys Bar

A spritz may be the perfect way to pass the time. A low-alcohol and appetite-whetting combination of bitter aperitivo and bubbly fizz, spritzes are excellent to have in hand while you’re waiting for dinner or, say, a seat at one of the most popular bars in New York City.

To help with the often hourslong wait for a seat at their award-winning bar Attaboy, co-owners Michael McIlroy and Sam Ross opened the cheekily named Good Guy’s next door. Attaboy is a dimly lit speakeasy known for ambitious variations on classic American cocktails; Good Guy’s is its spiritual opposite, with a big window framed by carved columns, a blond-wood bar, and a menu filled with light bites and sips.

Sam Ross

“Spritzes have become synonymous with Prosecco. We wanted to highlight how delicious a sparkling red wine can be in the same style of cocktail.” 

— Sam Ross

“We drew inspiration from the casual, vibrant bars we love when we visit places like Paris, Barcelona, or San Sebastián,” says McIlroy. “These are the spots where you can enjoy an afternoon spritz, have some snacks, and grab an espresso to go — all in a place with a laid-back, neighborhood vibe.”

Channel those vibes at home using the classic 3:2:1 spritz ratio of three parts sparkling wine, two parts liqueur, and one part soda water — the formula for an Aperol Spritz and its many siblings. Or switch up your spritz with recipes from Ross and McIlroy, like their Espresso Spritz; the Como Spritz, made with the herbal amaro Cynar and passion fruit syrup; or a Pineapple-Lambrusco Spritz, which highlights the Italian sparkling red wine Lambrusco.

“Spritzes have become synonymous with Prosecco,” Ross says. “We wanted to highlight how delicious a sparkling red wine can be in the same style of cocktail.” 

Serve these easy drinks with snacks at your parties this summer and beyond. Who knows — they’re so good, your guests might just forget about dinner.