Meet the Dirty Spritz, the Bold Cocktail Trend Worth Mixing Up

If you’ve been searching for something new and refreshing to drink this summer, it's time to try the dirty spritz. This clever hybrid is rising in popularity for a multitude of reasons. First, it's recognizable, classic, but still cool—Spritz Summer only really started trending across America in summer 2023. And with dirty martinis trending this past winter, the dirty spritz combines two drink trends in a low ABV beverage that looks good, is fun to drink, easy to make, and endlessly versatile. Here’s how to sip up your dirty spritz summer.

What Is a Dirty Spritz?

"I would say a dirty spritz is a way to get your electrolytes without a ton of alcohol,” says Ariel Arce, beverage director at Leonessa in New York. The dirty spritz is sweet, salty, and not completely composed of booze, like a Martini or Negroni. Typically, it's made from an aperitivo (like Aperol or Campari), vermouth, something sparkling (like Prosecco), and a splash of brine. "Most times, things that add brine are on the heavier full-alcohol side, so this is a way to enjoy those flavors but either with less ABV or in a fresher style,” says Arce. 

There are no strict rules when it comes to the dirty spritz, and Arce recommends playing around with the flavors to find what you like and have something truly stunning to sip on the patio.

Why Dirty Works 

A drink’s dirtiness can be compared to salt used to balance desserts, explains Nicole Yarovinsky, beverage director at Daisies in Chicago. Sometimes a pinch of salt helps balance everything out, and we often add a garnish of flaky salt to chocolate chip cookies or a decadent cake; it's a great enhancement ad balances the sweetness. "Flavor balance applies to all foods and beverages," Yarinovsky says. "The question comes down to what you're bringing in as your dirty component and how that pairs with the flavors in your existing spritz." 

How to Make a Dirty Spritz

To make a dirty spritz, Yarinovsky uses a ratio:

• 11/2 ounces of liquor
• 3 ounces of bubbles
• 1/2 to 3/4 ounce brine

The Liquor

Start with the base liquor of your favorite non-dirty spritz, whether that's made with Aperol or another apertivo, vermouth, or dry sherry or marsala wine. Yarinosky likes the latter with an alternative brine, more on that below.

The Bubbles

Use all seltzer for a lower ABV drink or a split of seltzer and sparkling wine.

The Brine

The brine is what makes your spritz dirty—and how much you need is based on the potency of the brine you choose. "It depends on the intensity of flavor you are looking for,” Yarinovsky says. “The brine from Losada Gordal Olives has some great balance of umami and depth, while still having a solid fruity olive note to it. Filthy Brands' olive brine is much cleaner and milder, acting more like an elevated lower-concentration saline solution.” If you want something even more savory spritz, Yarinozsky recommends dirtying it with a splash of the Espinaler Anchovy Stuffed Green Olives. “It goes even further with its complexity,” she says.

Just like with martinis, you don’t have to stop at olive juice to make your spritz dirty. Yarinovsky likes utilizing alternative lacto-fermented brines and says the brine from pickled tomatoes is amazing in a spritz. "Once you start exploring that direction, the possibilities go as far as your creativity does,” she says.

The Glass

Did we mention the dirty spritz is a versatile drink? Just as you can play with different combinations to create your ideal mix, you can serve it in the glass of your choice. That might be the typical big balloon often used for the Aperol spritz, a coupe (when you don't serve it over ice), or a highball.

Non-Alcoholic Dirty Spritz 

The spritz itself doesn’t even have to be alcoholic. There are plenty of non-alcoholic liqueurs that mimic the bitter flavors of their alcoholic predecessors. Additionally, zero-proof vermouth, non-alcoholic or dealcoholized sparkling wine, tonic, and seltzer all work to add bubbles. Just splash in your brine of choice, and your NA dirty spritz is ready to enjoy!