The Spa Spritz Is the 2025 Drink of the Summer

After speaking with 52 drink experts from coast to coast, all of whom chimed in to help us select the drink of summer 2025, it’s clear that we have yet to reach peak spritz.

“Spritzes are definitely still on the rise,” confirms Jeremy Oertel, creative beverage director of Method Co. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “People are looking to drink less, yet still want to enjoy something delicious and refreshing. A spritz is a great way to enjoy a cocktail that isn’t overpowering.”

The history of spritzes dates back to the late 1800s, when Austria began its decades-long occupation of Venice. Many Austrians found Venetian wines to be too heavy, so they turned to their tradition “spritzen,” which involved diluting wine with sparkling water. The sparkling wine and liqueur additions came later, and spritz culture really took off after the debut of bitter aperitifs like Aperol, Campari, and Select in the 1900s.

You’re probably well familiar with Aperol Spritzes at this point, and perhaps you’ve tried our 2023 drink of summer, the Hugo Spritz (with St. Germain elderflower liqueur) too. But a remix on another spritz might just become your new favorite this season: The Spa Spritz.

What Is the Spa Spritz, And Why Is it the Drink of Summer?

Bright, crushable, fizzy, and festive, spritz cocktails any which way are “perfect for warm weather,” says Tantai "Tan" Khantachavana, head bartender at BKK New York in New York City.

“We all love a good Aperol Spritz—it’s basically sunshine in a glass. But this summer, spritzes are having a serious moment, and they’re branching out in the best way,” explains Kimberly Johnson, bartender at Left Bank Brasserie Santana Row in San Jose, California. “What I love about the spritz trend is that it’s no longer one-size-fits-all. Don’t love the bitterness of Aperol? No problem. Go for a Hugo Spritz, which is floral, bubbly, and minty fresh. Or try my personal favorite: the Lillet Blanc Spritz.” 

A Lillet Blanc Spritz was actually one of the riffs we recommended in our late-summer 2024 guide to 13 genius 1-ingredient twists on the classic Aperol Spritz to try. This Spa Spritz recipe takes that concept and pairs it with relaxing spa water vibes, via fresh basil and cucumber slice garnishes. 

The resulting flavor is “lively, complex, and fresh,” according to Oertel, thanks to the citrusy, herbal, and every-so-slightly-floral notes of the Lillet. The basil echoes that herbal quality, while “cucumber gives it a refreshing zing, perfect for those sweltering summer days,” he adds.

While the flavor is complex, mastering how to make a Spa Spritz certainly isn’t. And if we’re reading the room accurately, we’re all in the mood for something that’s low-fuss and low-stress. (Recent surveys reveal that Americans are feeling quite a bit more anxious than in years past about the economy, job security, global politics, gun violence, the climate, their health, and more.)

Johnson describes the Spa Spritz as “mellow” as well as “sophisticated and stylish,” and applauds the fact that it “doesn’t require a full home bar to enjoy.” In fact, you need just 5 ingredients, including the MVP: Lillet Blanc.

“This summer, people are going to flock to bubbly cocktails because these times are tricky,” predicts Nick Detrich, owner of Magdalena in Indianapolis, Indiana and co-owner of Jewel of the South and Cane and Table in New Orleans, Louisiana. “Any time you are enjoying the company of friends outdoors, then that’s a cause worthy of celebration.”

Spa Spritz Ingredients

Invigorating and ideal to sip on swelteringly hot days, Johnson tells BHG that the Spa Spritz is “just as easy to make as they are to enjoy. Light, wine-based, and perfectly balanced with just the right touch of fruitiness, this one’s like sipping sophistication,” she says.

All you need to recreate one at home? A bottle of Lillet Blanc, some sparkling wine, a splash of soda water, and some fresh garnishes. Combine those and serve over ice. “Refreshment unlocked,” Johnson confirms.

Round up these ingredients to follow along with this Spa Spritz recipe: 

• Lemon, orange, or lime slices: A fresh orange slice is a traditional Lillet Spritz garnish. During our taste tests, we also adored the results with lemon and lime. Choose your favorite—or a mix of two or three.
• Cucumber slices: To layer on the spa water vibes, add a few slices of fresh cucumber. This addition is more about the appearance and the chill energy it imparts, but you might also notice its mild, refreshing flavor and aroma, too.
• Fresh basil or mint: A few leaves of garden-fresh basil or mint are also invited to the spa day to share their bright and fresh-smelling essential oils and light herbal flavor.
• Lillet Blanc: Lilliet is a French fortified wine that was created in 1872 by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet in Podensac, south of Bordeaux, France, Oertel says. Today, this aperitif comes in two forms: Lillet Blanc and Lillet Rosé. It’s a blend of extra Bordeaux wine grapes, citrus, herbs and quinine, Khantachavana explains, and the Blanc version has notes of orange blossom, honeysuckle, citrus, peach, apricot, and white flowers, with a hint of pine. You can consume Lillet Blanc neat or chilled (which is “enlightening,” Khantachavana believes) or you can add Lillet to cocktails like this Spa Spritz, where it’s “almost like a cherry on top of a good sundae,” according to Khantachavana. “Not too bitter, not too sweet; it hits that perfect middle ground that makes it approachable for nearly everyone,” Johnson says. The alcohol content sits at the sweet spot between Aperol’s 11% ABV and St. Germain’s 20% ABV, too. Lillet Blanc is 17% ABV. Paired with the naturally fairly low-ABV sparkling wine, the Spa Spritz is highly unlikely to leave you with a headache tomorrow.
• Sparkling wine: Speaking of that sparkling wine, since the Lillet Blanc is mildly sweet, it’s wise to reach for a dry sparkling wine. All of our pros give a thumbs up to Prosecco or Cava here, but truly any sparkling wine (including Champagne, of course) works great. “If you only have sweet bubbly, try adding a squeeze of lemon juice to balance out that sweetness with acidity,” Johnson recommends.
• Club soda: Khantachavana tells BHG that carbonation lifts and elevates any beverage it is part of “Carbon dioxide in mixology works like a class clown that constantly lights up the whole mood of the room, however only in the right proportion. Otherwise everything became overwhelming,” he says. You need just a splash of club soda. Seltzer or sparkling water are suitable alternatives.