In this week’s episode of Into the Barchive, Blake and Tim dive into one of the most recognizable cocktails in the world: the Aperol Spritz.

More than just a bright orange drink in a wine glass, the Aperol Spritz is tied to the Italian ritual of aperitivo, the pre-dinner tradition of slowing down, gathering with friends, enjoying light snacks, and easing into the evening. Blake and Tim explore how that culture shaped the spritz, how the drink evolved from wine and soda in northern Italy, and how Aperol helped turn a regional ritual into a global symbol of relaxed summer drinking.

Along the way, they make two drinks: the classic Aperol Spritz, built with sparkling wine, Aperol, and soda, and the Spaghett, a playful dive bar riff made with Miller High Life, Aperol, and lemon juice. One comes from more than a century of Italian aperitivo culture. The other proves that great cocktail ideas can show up anywhere, even in a bottle of beer.

From Venice piazzas to patios around the world, this episode looks at why the Aperol Spritz became more than a cocktail. It became a lifestyle.